Arts and Media Management: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Arts and Media Management equips students with the strategic leadership and operational expertise needed to thrive in dynamic cultural and creative industries. This interdisciplinary program integrates business acumen with artistic insight, preparing graduates to navigate the complexities of managing visual arts, performing arts, and entertainment media organizations.
- Business and Financial Management: Develops skills in budgeting, financial planning, and fiscal oversight tailored to nonprofit and for-profit creative enterprises.
- Marketing and Fund-Raising: Explores contemporary strategies for audience development, brand positioning, and securing sustainable funding through grants, sponsorships, and donor engagement.
- Labor Relations for the Arts: Addresses union negotiations, collective bargaining, and equitable workforce practices specific to creative professionals and performing artists.
- Event Promotion and Management: Covers end-to-end planning, logistics, public relations, and digital outreach for live performances, exhibitions, and cultural festivals.
- Product and Artist Management: Focuses on career development, branding, contractual agreements, and long-term strategic planning for individual creatives and cultural products.
- Applicable Law: Provides foundational knowledge of intellectual property rights, contracts, licensing, and regulatory compliance within the arts and media sectors.
Arts and Media Management Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Arts and Media Management Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Arts and Media Management degrees, including Managers, All Other, Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes and Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 743,090 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other 11-9199 | $136,550 | $68,860 - $227,590 | 630,980 | $65.65 |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes 13-1011 | $96,310 | $48,530 - $239,200 | 14,220 | $46.30 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1121 | $80,190 | $47,040 - $194,530 | 97,890 | N/A |
Arts and Media Management Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $61,985 in Utah to $138,360 in California—a 123% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Massachusetts, and District of Columbia. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 743,090 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Arts and Media Management by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 69 institutions offering Arts and Media Management programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Arts and Media Management is found at University of Central Florida (UCF) (152 graduates), Los Angeles Film School (LAFS) (116 graduates), Belmont University (95 graduates), Northwestern University (74 graduates), and University of Kentucky (UK) (35 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 982 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
|
152 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Los Angeles Film School (LAFS) |
Bachelor's
|
116 | Hollywood, California | Private | lafilm.edu |
| Belmont University |
Bachelor's
|
95 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | belmont.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Master's
|
74 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
34 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Full Sail University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
34 | Winter Park, Florida | Private | fullsail.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
25 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
24 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| University of North Alabama (UNA) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Florence, Alabama | Public | una.edu |
| Elon University |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Elon, North Carolina | Private | elon.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
19 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Master's
|
18 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Pepperdine University |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Malibu, California | Private | pepperdine.edu |
| Butler University |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | butler.edu |
| The New School |
Master's
|
15 | New York, New York | Private | newschool.edu |
| Drexel University |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| National University (NU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | San Diego, California | Private | nu.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Master's
|
12 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
11 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| Southern Utah University (SUU) |
Master's
|
11 | Cedar City, Utah | Public | suu.edu |
| Ringling College of Art and Design |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Sarasota, Florida | Private | ringling.edu |
| Stonehill College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Easton, Massachusetts | Private | stonehill.edu |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Public | uco.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Master's
|
8 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Columbia College Chicago (CCC) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | colum.edu |
| Le Moyne College |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
7 | Syracuse, New York | Private | lemoyne.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| Champlain College |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Burlington, Vermont | Private | champlain.edu |
| Shenandoah University (SU) |
Master's
|
7 | Winchester, Virginia | Private | su.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
6 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| DePaul University |
Master's
|
6 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Master's
|
6 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Master's
|
6 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Central Maine Community College (CMCC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Auburn, Maine | Public | cmcc.edu |
| Eastern Michigan University (EMU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Public | emich.edu |
| University of Missouri (UMKC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Kansas City, Missouri | Public | umkc.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| Rowan University |
Master's
|
4 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| New Mexico Junior College (NMJC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Hobbs, New Mexico | Public | nmjc.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Albright College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Reading, Pennsylvania | Private | albright.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMD) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | d.umn.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Post-Master's
|
3 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| Lancaster Bible College (LBC) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Private | lbc.edu |
| Lipscomb University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | lipscomb.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Master's
|
2 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Hartford (UHart) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | West Hartford, Connecticut | Private | hartford.edu |
| Schoolcraft Community College District |
Associate's
|
2 | Livonia, Michigan | Public | schoolcraft.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Master's
|
2 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWGB) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Public | uwgb.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Menomonie, Wisconsin | Public | uwstout.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Other Award
|
1 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| Millikin University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Decatur, Illinois | Private | millikin.edu |
| Kansas Wesleyan University (KWU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Salina, Kansas | Private | kwu.edu |
| Dean College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Franklin, Massachusetts | Private | dean.edu |
| Middlesex Community College (MCC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Bedford, Massachusetts | Public | middlesex.mass.edu |
| Western New England University (WNE) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Private | wne.edu |
| University of Michigan |
Master's
|
1 | Flint, Michigan | Public | umflint.edu |
| Holmes Community College |
Associate's
|
1 | Goodman, Mississippi | Public | holmescc.edu |
| Keene State College (KSC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Keene, New Hampshire | Public | keene.edu |
| Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCAD) |
Other Award
|
1 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Private | pcad.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Schreiner University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Kerrville, Texas | Private | schreiner.edu |
| Westminster University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Private | westminstercollege.edu |
| Seattle University (Seattle U) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Seattle, Washington | Private | seattleu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Arts and Media Management programs
How much can I earn with a Arts and Media Management degree?
Salaries for Arts and Media Management graduates vary by role and location. Managers, All Other earn a median of $136,550 annually, while Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes earn around $96,310. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $138,360 compared to $61,985 in Utah. Approximately 743,090 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Arts and Media Management programs?
Currently 69 accredited institutions offer Arts and Media Management degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Central Florida (UCF) (152 graduates), Los Angeles Film School (LAFS) (116 graduates), and Belmont University (95 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Arts and Media Management growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 119 in 2010 to a peak of 988 in 2020, before declining slightly to 982 in 2023-24. This represents a 725% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Arts and Media Management degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Managers, All Other, Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes, and Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 743,090 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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