[General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/arts-media-management/arts-entertainmentand-media-management-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general arts, entertainment, & media management education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 103 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general arts, entertainment, & media management students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general arts, entertainment, & media management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is University Of Central Florida, our #1 best value for general arts, entertainment, & media management in the United States. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,569 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $29,025 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,569 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general arts, entertainment, & media management schools. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Students from in state pay about $10,266 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $27,172 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
University Of North Alabama came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general arts, entertainment, & media management schools. University Of North Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Florence. Students from in state pay about $12,120 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,320. Students borrow a median of $24,937 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of University Of North Alabama earn a median of $25,805 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general arts, entertainment, & media management will find it at University Of Kentucky, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $27,323. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Ohio University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general arts, entertainment, & media management, landing the #5 spot this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $24,546. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,546 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University placed #6 among the best values for general arts, entertainment, & media management. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $18,508 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $27,000. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of $34,904 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
Loyola University New Orleans landed the #7 spot for general arts, entertainment, & media management value this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,440. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $27,000. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Loyola University New Orleans earn a median of $48,040 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Loyola University New Orleans admits about 93% of applicants.
Lipscomb University earned the #8 position for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,572. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $48,949. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Miami University Oxford placed #9 among the best values for general arts, entertainment, & media management. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $24,177. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $49,700. That is a strong return on a $24,177 median debt. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% of applicants.
Columbia College Chicago landed the #10 spot for general arts, entertainment, & media management value this year. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $34,088 in tuition and fees. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $23,844 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Depaul University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general arts, entertainment, & media management schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $25,310. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $55,226. Set against $25,310 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
National University landed the #12 spot for general arts, entertainment, & media management value this year. Set in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,284. Students borrow a median of $30,426 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of National University earn a median of $69,080 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Southern California earned the #13 position for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $26,975. That is a strong return on a $21,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Belmont University landed the #14 spot for general arts, entertainment, & media management value this year. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $42,540 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $30,666. Set against $22,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University came in at #15 for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates carry a median of $25,468 in student loans. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $24,205. That is a strong return on a $25,468 median debt. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
Butler University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value general arts, entertainment, & media management schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $47,560. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from Butler University generally make around $34,911. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Butler University admits about 85% of applicants.
Full Sail University earned the #17 position for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,906. Students borrow a median of $39,580 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from Full Sail University generally make around $28,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Syracuse University came in at #18 for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,528. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $27,000. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $35,389. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Elon University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value general arts, entertainment, & media management schools. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $46,958 in tuition and fees. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates carry a median of $26,544 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from Elon University generally make around $32,413. Set against $26,544 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Los Angeles Film School came in at #20 for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Located in the city of Hollywood, Los Angeles Film School is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $44,250 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Los Angeles Film School earn a median of $18,706 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $44,250 median debt.
Pepperdine University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value general arts, entertainment, & media management schools. Set in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $69,918. Students borrow a median of $23,645 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $57,582. Set against $23,645 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pepperdine University admits about 63% of applicants.
The New School ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value general arts, entertainment, & media management schools. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,730. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from The New School generally make around $37,743. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Explore the best-value general arts, entertainment, & media management schools at other degree levels:
View All General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 103 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
