[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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The general arts, entertainment, & media management program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we developed our Best Value General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Learn more about our methodology
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We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management Schools list, to help you decide. 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.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general arts, entertainment, & media management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked University Of Central Florida the best value for a degree in general arts, entertainment, & media management in the United States. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,569 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $29,025. Set against $22,569 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Utah University earned it the #2 place for general arts, entertainment, & media management. Set in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,962, with out-of-state students paying around $21,192. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates carry a median of $12,886 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from Southern Utah University generally make around $44,998. That is a strong return on a $12,886 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Students looking for strong value in general arts, entertainment, & media management will find it at Middle Tennessee State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,266 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $27,172 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general arts, entertainment, & media management will find it at University Of North Alabama, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,120, while out-of-state students pay about $22,320. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates carry a median of $24,937 in student loans. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $25,805. That is a strong return on a $24,937 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Kentucky one of the best values for general arts, entertainment, & media management. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $36,072. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Oklahoma landed the #6 spot for general arts, entertainment, & media management value this year. Located in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,818, with out-of-state students paying around $19,704. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $23,321. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from University Of Central Oklahoma generally make around $44,085. Set against $23,321 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Oklahoma admits about 78% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #7 position for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $49,736. That is a strong return on a $24,546 median debt. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins earned the #8 position for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $22,843. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $44,475. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Grand Canyon University earned the #9 position for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,508. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $27,000. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of $34,904 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Loyola University New Orleans earned the #10 position for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,440. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Loyola University New Orleans earn a median of $48,040 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Boston University came in at #11 for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. 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. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $25,232. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $63,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Lipscomb University earned the #12 position for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from Lipscomb University generally make around $48,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University earned the #13 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. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford came in at #14 for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,177 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $49,700. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% of applicants.
Columbia College Chicago landed the #15 spot for general arts, entertainment, & media management value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,088 in tuition and fees. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $23,844. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University landed the #16 spot for general arts, entertainment, & media management value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $25,310. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $55,226 early in their careers. Set against $25,310 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
National University earned the #17 position for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. National University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Students from in state pay about $13,284 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $30,426. Soon after graduation, general arts, entertainment, & media management degree recipients from National University generally make around $69,080. Set against $30,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Carnegie Mellon University placed #18 among the best values for general arts, entertainment, & media management. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Carnegie Mellon University admits about 12% of applicants.
University Of Southern California ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value general arts, entertainment, & media management schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $26,975. That is a strong return on a $21,250 median debt. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
Belmont University placed #20 among the best values for general arts, entertainment, & media management. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,540. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $22,750. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Belmont University earn a median of $30,666 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Belmont University admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of Miami earned the #21 position for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University ranked #22 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,412. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $25,468. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $34,859. Set against $25,468 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Butler University landed the #23 spot for general arts, entertainment, & media management value this year. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Students from in state pay about $47,560 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates is $25,000. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $34,911. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Full Sail University earned the #24 position for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Set in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $26,906 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $36,149 to complete the general arts, entertainment, & media management program here. Early-career general arts, entertainment, & media management graduates make about $27,762. Set against $36,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Syracuse University came in at #25 for value in general arts, entertainment, & media management this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. 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. General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $35,389 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in general arts, entertainment, & media management:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 19 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.
