[General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/arts-media-management/arts-entertainmentand-media-management-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 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.
Southern Utah University earned the #1 spot for value among general arts, entertainment, & media management schools in the United States. Southern Utah University is a very large public school located in the town of Cedar City. In-state tuition and fees average $6,962, compared with $21,192 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,886 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Southern Utah University earn a median of $44,998 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,886 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus one of the best values for general arts, entertainment, & media management. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,797 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $23,138. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $58,084. Set against $23,138 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Kentucky one of the best values for general arts, entertainment, & media management. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $44,821. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
A rank of #4 makes Colorado State University Fort Collins one of the best values for general arts, entertainment, & media management. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $22,843. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $44,475. Set against $22,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Ohio University Main Campus one of the best values for general arts, entertainment, & media management. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Boston University came in at #6 for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $63,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
Columbia College Chicago landed the #7 spot for general arts, entertainment, & media management value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,088. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $29,160. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University earned the #8 position for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $47,523. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Carnegie Mellon University placed #9 among the best values for general arts, entertainment, & media management. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $23,529. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $47,740. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Shenandoah University earned the #10 position for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winchester. In-state tuition and fees average $36,950. Students borrow a median of $26,005 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from Shenandoah University generally make around $62,948. That is a strong return on a $26,005 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California came in at #11 for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $26,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
University Of Miami placed #12 among the best values for general arts, entertainment, & media management. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $49,808 early in their careers. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University came in at #13 for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,412. Students borrow a median of $25,468 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $67,556 early in their careers. Set against $25,468 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
Syracuse University earned the #14 position for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
Southern Methodist University came in at #15 for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,040. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates carry a median of $20,712 in student loans. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $70,632 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,712 median debt. Southern Methodist University admits about 63% of applicants.
Full Sail University landed the #16 spot for general arts, entertainment, & media management value this year. Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Winter Park. Students from in state pay about $26,906 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $36,149. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from Full Sail University generally make around $29,154. That is a strong return on a $36,149 median debt.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
