[General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/arts-media-management/arts-entertainmentand-media-management-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 103 schools to find the best return on investment 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. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates carry a median of $12,886 in student loans. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Southern Utah University earn a median of $44,998 early in their careers. Set against $12,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general arts, entertainment, & media management will find it at University Of Kentucky, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $27,000. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $44,821 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general arts, entertainment, & media management will find it at Ohio University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. 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. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general arts, entertainment, & media management, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $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 Boston University one of the best values for general arts, entertainment, & media management. 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. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Northwestern University earned the #6 position for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $47,523 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Columbia College Chicago landed the #7 spot for general arts, entertainment, & media management value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Carnegie Mellon University earned the #8 position for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. In-state tuition and fees average $65,636. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $23,529. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $47,740 early in their careers. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 12%.
University Of Southern California ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value general arts, entertainment, & media management schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. 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. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $26,975 early in their careers. Set against $21,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
University Of Miami ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general arts, entertainment, & media management schools. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $17,750. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $49,808. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 19%.
Drexel University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general arts, entertainment, & media management schools. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,412. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $25,468. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $67,556. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Full Sail University placed #12 among the best values for general arts, entertainment, & media management. Set in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,906. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates carry a median of $36,149 in student loans. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $29,154. That is a strong return on a $36,149 median debt.
Syracuse University came in at #13 for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Students from in state pay about $65,528 in tuition and fees. 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 $35,389. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Methodist University came in at #14 for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $67,040 in tuition and fees. 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.
American University earned the #15 position for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $58,771. Students borrow a median of $24,139 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from American University generally make around $51,426. That is a strong return on a $24,139 median debt. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
The New School earned the #16 position for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,730. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $37,743. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
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
This list is compiled 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.
