[Museology/Museum Studies](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/museum-studies/museology-museum-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 95 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value museology/museum studies schools.
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Finding the Best Value Museology/Museum Studies School for You
Where you study museology/museum studies affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value Museology/Museum Studies Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Museology/Museum Studies Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Our analysis ranked Cuny Hunter College the best value for a degree in museology/museum studies in the United States. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Museology/museum Studies graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. Museology/museum Studies graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $51,372 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,091 median debt. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
San Francisco State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in museology/museum studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,846, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for museology/museum studies graduates is $17,024. Soon after graduation, museology/museum studies degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $50,955. Set against $17,024 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. San Francisco State University admits about 96% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the best values for museology/museum studies. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the museology/museum studies program here. Early-career museology/museum studies graduates make about $66,254. Set against $19,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of Georgia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in museology/museum studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Museology/museum Studies graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Soon after graduation, museology/museum studies degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $53,546. That is a strong return on a $21,792 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #5 place for museology/museum studies. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for museology/museum studies graduates is $16,481. Soon after graduation, museology/museum studies degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $32,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis placed #6 among the best values for museology/museum studies. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Students borrow a median of $23,146 to complete the museology/museum studies program here. Soon after graduation, museology/museum studies degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $31,415. That is a strong return on a $23,146 median debt. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #7 spot for museology/museum studies value this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Museology/museum Studies graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans. Soon after graduation, museology/museum studies degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #8 position for value in museology/museum studies this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,398, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Students borrow a median of $26,657 to complete the museology/museum studies program here. Museology/museum Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $37,453 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,657 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
Harvard University earned the #9 position for value in museology/museum studies this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Typical student debt for museology/museum studies graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, museology/museum studies degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $44,792. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of Kansas landed the #10 spot for museology/museum studies value this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete the museology/museum studies program here. Soon after graduation, museology/museum studies degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $56,289. That is a strong return on a $23,608 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Johns Hopkins University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value museology/museum studies schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Museology/museum Studies graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Soon after graduation, museology/museum studies degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $41,463. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #12 spot for museology/museum studies value this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete the museology/museum studies program here. Soon after graduation, museology/museum studies degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $57,819. Set against $21,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Oneonta came in at #13 for value in museology/museum studies this year. Set in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,831, with out-of-state students paying around $19,781. Students borrow a median of $22,046 to complete the museology/museum studies program here. Museology/museum Studies graduates of Suny College At Oneonta earn a median of $40,063 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,046 median debt. Suny College At Oneonta admits about 70% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #14 for value in museology/museum studies this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the museology/museum studies program here. Soon after graduation, museology/museum studies degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa placed #15 among the best values for museology/museum studies. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Students borrow a median of $21,295 to complete the museology/museum studies program here. Museology/museum Studies graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $57,375 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #16 spot for museology/museum studies value this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Students borrow a median of $20,373 to complete the museology/museum studies program here. Soon after graduation, museology/museum studies degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $55,861. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
Texas Tech University came in at #17 for value in museology/museum studies this year. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Typical student debt for museology/museum studies graduates is $24,271. Early-career museology/museum studies graduates make about $32,400. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Fashion Institute Of Technology landed the #18 spot for museology/museum studies value this year. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,174, with out-of-state students paying around $22,696. Students borrow a median of $17,912 to complete the museology/museum studies program here. Early-career museology/museum studies graduates make about $48,369. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology came in at #19 for value in museology/museum studies this year. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Students from in state pay about $59,210 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for museology/museum studies graduates is $27,491. Early-career museology/museum studies graduates make about $63,515. That is a strong return on a $27,491 median debt. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
New York University landed the #20 spot for museology/museum studies value this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Museology/museum Studies graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. Soon after graduation, museology/museum studies degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,516. That is a strong return on a $21,897 median debt. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Tufts University earned the #21 position for value in museology/museum studies this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,704. Museology/museum Studies graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans. Early-career museology/museum studies graduates make about $31,434. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tufts University admits about 12% of applicants.
George Washington University landed the #22 spot for museology/museum studies value this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,710. Typical student debt for museology/museum studies graduates is $22,910. Museology/museum Studies graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $42,498 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 47% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value museology/museum studies schools. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,089 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete the museology/museum studies program here. Early-career museology/museum studies graduates make about $41,215. That is a strong return on a $16,483 median debt. Georgetown University admits about 13% of applicants.
University Of San Francisco placed #24 among the best values for museology/museum studies. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,522. Museology/museum Studies graduates carry a median of $23,935 in student loans. Museology/museum Studies graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $28,124 early in their careers. Set against $23,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Syracuse University earned the #25 position for value in museology/museum studies 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. Students borrow a median of $26,130 to complete the museology/museum studies program here. Early-career museology/museum studies graduates make about $31,080. Set against $26,130 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
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 · 95 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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).
[Museology/Museum Studies](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/museum-studies/museology-museum-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
