by our College Data Analytics Team
[Arts Media Management](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/arts-media-management/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their arts media management graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying arts media management schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send arts media management graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Elmhurst College the top school for arts media management graduate earnings in Illinois. Elmhurst College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Students who complete the arts media management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,639.
Northwestern University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in arts media management, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career arts media management graduates from Northwestern University make a median of around $47,523 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Columbia College Chicago earned it the #3 place for arts media management. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career arts media management graduates from Columbia College Chicago make a median of around $37,121 per year.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their arts media management graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 3 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.