Best Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management Degrees in the US by ROI

Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs Analyzed

33

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

-$339,421

Across all programs

Average Annual Cost

$47,055

Cost of attendance

# College State 20-Yr Net ROI Median Salary Annual Cost Avg Debt
1 Rider University

Grad rate: 64.8%

NJ -$68,408 $49,376 $53,982 N/A Full ROI →
2 Wagner College

Grad rate: 64.9%

NY -$95,118 $51,668 $63,007 $27,000 Full ROI →
3 University of New Haven

Grad rate: 60.5%

CT -$163,750 $48,429 $63,970 $27,000 Full ROI →
4 University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Grad rate: 56.0%

WI -$184,616 $36,530 $18,804 N/A Full ROI →
5 Pace University

Grad rate: 61.4%

NY -$210,407 $46,852 $68,092 $25,985 Full ROI →
6 The New School

Grad rate: 70.2%

NY -$212,338 $49,622 $82,757 $25,000 Full ROI →
7 Indiana University-Bloomington

Grad rate: 81.2%

IN -$220,559 $37,923 $27,361 $21,908 Full ROI →
8 University of Kentucky

Grad rate: 69.3%

KY -$236,194 $38,471 $32,291 $27,000 Full ROI →
9 Syracuse University

Grad rate: 82.4%

NY -$240,414 $47,881 $80,396 $27,000 Full ROI →
10 University of Hartford

Grad rate: 57.6%

CT -$250,292 $41,940 $62,273 N/A Full ROI →
11 Appalachian State University

Grad rate: 74.1%

NC -$252,532 $35,552 $22,654 $24,412 Full ROI →
12 Ferris State University

Grad rate: 48.6%

MI -$257,018 $36,120 $26,066 $26,040 Full ROI →
13 North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Grad rate: 84.6%

NC -$273,052 $33,470 $25,613 N/A Full ROI →
14 SUNY at Fredonia

Grad rate: 56.6%

NY -$276,814 $35,048 $25,331 $27,000 Full ROI →
15 College of Charleston

Grad rate: 64.8%

SC -$292,673 $34,989 $30,731 $21,874 Full ROI →
16 SUNY Oneonta

Grad rate: 72.3%

NY -$316,279 $33,207 $27,258 $23,250 Full ROI →
17 Middle Tennessee State University

Grad rate: 54.3%

TN -$319,903 $32,125 $22,754 $23,250 Full ROI →
18 SUNY at Purchase College

Grad rate: 64.2%

NY -$336,668 $32,388 $28,541 $22,418 Full ROI →
19 Loyola University New Orleans

Grad rate: 67.3%

LA -$349,138 $38,733 $61,837 $27,000 Full ROI →
20 Berklee College of Music

Grad rate: 67.5%

MA -$354,982 $40,006 $69,874 $26,375 Full ROI →
21 Elmhurst University

Grad rate: 64.4%

IL -$372,504 $35,504 $51,829 $26,125 Full ROI →
22 Belmont University

Grad rate: 72.1%

TN -$383,192 $36,472 $60,480 $22,750 Full ROI →
23 University of North Alabama

Grad rate: 53.1%

AL -$383,288 $28,936 $22,086 $24,937 Full ROI →
24 Fashion Institute of Technology

Grad rate: 83.3%

NY -$403,438 $29,444 $29,732 $24,734 Full ROI →
25 Columbia College Chicago

Grad rate: 47.8%

IL -$410,836 $33,173 $49,799 $26,000 Full ROI →
26 Butler University

Grad rate: 80.5%

IN -$457,062 $33,735 $64,503 $25,000 Full ROI →
27 Drexel University

Grad rate: 77.6%

PA -$457,809 $35,862 $75,167 $25,468 Full ROI →
28 Full Sail University

Grad rate: 45.0%

FL -$497,809 $27,744 $39,814 $39,580 Full ROI →
29 Howard University

Grad rate: 69.2%

DC -$555,470 $26,339 $51,450 $27,000 Full ROI →
30 Los Angeles Film School

Grad rate: 44.0%

CA -$565,577 $24,572 $39,320 $44,250 Full ROI →
31 University of the Arts

Grad rate: 67.6%

PA -$573,312 $29,322 $70,834 $26,975 Full ROI →
32 University of Southern California

Grad rate: 92.2%

CA -$587,879 $30,976 $84,678 $21,250 Full ROI →
33 Universidad del Sagrado Corazon

Grad rate: 41.7%

PR -$641,580 $13,831 $19,550 N/A Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.

Find Best Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management Degrees by State

Browse Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.