by our College Data Analytics TeamWithout an Arts and Media Management professional working for singers, artists, and theater productions, no one would ever hear about a performance. These professionals take care of the business side of art and media to ensure venues are booked, bills are paid, and an audience shows up.
Arts and Media Management majors learn how to bring artists, performances, and productions to the general public. You will take classes in business, finance, marketing, accounting, arts and entertainment law, and advocacy to learn how to raise funds, promote performances or exhibits, and ensure people hear about your client. A professional in the field will use their business and marketing skills to spread the word about their client and guarantee people know their name.
Students have the option to specialize in Fine and Studio Arts Management, Music Management, or Theater Arts Management.
A major in Arts & Media Management explores Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management. Read on to learn the essential details every arts & media management student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering arts & media management programs.
Nationwide, arts & media management is a popular field of study, with 4,430 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Arts & Media Management Schools ranking analyzes these 240 schools to determine the best overall colleges for arts & media management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of arts & media management programs later in this article.
Coursework for Arts & Media Management emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations arts & media management graduates commonly enter.
Arts and Media Management professionals are responsible for taking care of the business tasks for an artist or entertainer. Organization is important as you handle multiple tasks at once and ensure everything is finished in a timely manner. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are also necessary as you communicate frequently with artists, media, venues, and the general public. It is important to be courteous while making sure your message is heard. Students who excel in this field often have a background in business.
Graduates of this major pursue fulltime positions in a variety of companies and industries. While most time is spent in the office, professionals may be required to travel with their client on occasion. Long hours and work on nights and weekends are possible depending when shows are and if you are working to meet a deadline.
Students should find an internship or summer job in this field while in school because employers prefer previous experience. This experience will allow you to work in the Arts and Media Management field and begin building contacts that may be beneficial in the future.
The skill set emphasized by a arts & media management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a arts & media management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several arts & media management degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 48 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 204 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,780 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,389 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 9 |
People currently working in careers related to arts & media management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 37.6% |
| Master’s degree | 28.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.3% |
| Some college courses | 2.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in arts & media management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Graduates usually find jobs focusing on the non-profit or entertainment side of arts and media. Some have gone on to work for advertising agencies, as talent agents, with theater companies, as a gallery owner, marketing coordinator, heads of entertainment companies, and with television stations. Since you will have business skills and knowledge of both arts and media, many job opportunities are available to you.
A degree in arts & media management opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to arts & media management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to arts & media management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Producers and Directors | 355,369 | -3.9% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | 241,360 | 10.8% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Music Directors and Composers | 180,947 | 6.4% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of arts & media management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $30,449 |
| 4 years | $42,732 |
| 5 years | $47,703 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for arts & media management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers arts & media management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | $96,762 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Media Programming Directors | $90,799 |
With 240 different arts & media management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased arts & media management school rankings to help you.
Those considering arts & media management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music Management | 1,866 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, General | 982 |
| Fine and Studio Arts Management | 930 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, Other | 432 |
| Theatre/Theatre Arts Management | 220 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | 38,798 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 37,770 |
| Music | 25,853 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 18,927 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 16,640 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 7,225 |
| Dance | 3,274 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | 941 |
| Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry | 67 |
| Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art | 12 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
