[Arts & Media Management](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/arts-media-management/) 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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for arts & media management students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in arts & media management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Ferris State University earned the #1 spot for value among arts & media management schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,778. Typical student debt for arts & media management graduates is $26,040. Soon after graduation, arts & media management degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $27,565. Set against $26,040 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington is a great value for students pursuing a degree in arts & media management, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Arts & Media Management graduates carry a median of $21,908 in student loans. Arts & Media Management graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $37,018 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,908 median debt. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in arts & media management will find it at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #3. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for arts & media management graduates is $21,813. Early-career arts & media management graduates make about $59,877. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio University Main Campus earned it the #4 place for arts & media management. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for arts & media management graduates is $24,546. Early-career arts & media management graduates make about $49,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bradley University earned it the #5 place for arts & media management. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,160. Arts & Media Management graduates carry a median of $26,380 in student loans. Early-career arts & media management graduates make about $54,513. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Columbia College Chicago placed #6 among the best values for arts & media management. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,088. Arts & Media Management graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Arts & 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. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Baldwin Wallace College earned the #7 position for value in arts & media management this year. Set in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,832. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the arts & media management program here. Early-career arts & media management graduates make about $29,088. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford came in at #8 for value in arts & media management this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,519 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Arts & Media Management graduates carry a median of $24,177 in student loans. Soon after graduation, arts & 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.
Northwestern University landed the #9 spot for arts & media management value this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the arts & media management program here. Soon after graduation, arts & media management degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $47,523. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Depaul University came in at #10 for value in arts & media management this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $25,340 to complete the arts & media management program here. Arts & Media Management graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $55,390 early in their careers. Set against $25,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Butler University landed the #11 spot for arts & media management value this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,560. Arts & Media Management graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career arts & media management graduates make about $34,911. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Butler University admits about 85% of applicants.
School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago landed the #12 spot for arts & media management value this year. School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,623. Typical student debt for arts & media management graduates is $27,000. Early-career arts & media management graduates make about $38,205. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Narrow Arts & Media Management Schools by State
More Arts & Media Management Rankings
View All Arts & Media Management Rankings >
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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
