Arts and Media Management: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Arts and Media Management prepares students to lead and operate within dynamic cultural and creative industries. This interdisciplinary field integrates business acumen with artistic insight, equipping learners to navigate the strategic, operational, and financial demands of arts organizations, entertainment ventures, and media enterprises.
- Arts Administration: Focuses on organizational leadership, governance, and policy development within nonprofit and public arts institutions, including theaters, galleries, and cultural foundations.
- Entertainment Industry Operations: Explores the behind-the-scenes management of film, television, music, and live performance production, covering talent coordination, scheduling, and logistics.
- Media Business Strategy: Examines revenue models, digital distribution, audience engagement, and branding in contemporary media environments, including streaming platforms and independent content creators.
- Fundraising and Philanthropy: Develops skills in grant writing, donor relations, and campaign management essential for sustaining arts and cultural programs in competitive funding landscapes.
- Event and Project Management: Provides hands-on training in planning, executing, and evaluating cultural events, exhibitions, and media productions from concept to completion.
- Creative Entrepreneurship: Encourages innovation through the development of independent creative ventures, including artist-run collectives, media startups, and hybrid performance formats.
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 15 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 Full Sail University (256 graduates), Belmont University (95 graduates), SAE Institute of Technology, Nashville (32 graduates), Loyola University New Orleans (LOYNO) (14 graduates), and Delta State University (DSU) (9 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 432 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Sail University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
256 | Winter Park, Florida | Private | fullsail.edu |
| Belmont University |
Bachelor's
|
95 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | belmont.edu |
| SAE Institute of Technology |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
32 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | usa.sae.edu |
| Loyola University New Orleans (LOYNO) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | loyno.edu |
| Delta State University (DSU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Cleveland, Mississippi | Public | deltastate.edu |
| University of New Haven (UNH) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | West Haven, Connecticut | Private | newhaven.edu |
| Wesleyan College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Macon, Georgia | Private | wesleyancollege.edu |
| Hinds Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
4 | Raymond, Mississippi | Public | hindscc.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Other Award
|
4 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Master's
|
3 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| CUNY Medgar Evers College (MEC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | mec.cuny.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Other Award
|
1 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Dean College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Franklin, Massachusetts | Private | dean.edu |
| Hennepin Technical College (HTC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Brooklyn Park, Minnesota | Public | hennepintech.edu |
| Union University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Jackson, Tennessee | Private | uu.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 15 accredited institutions offer Arts and Media Management degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Full Sail University (256 graduates), Belmont University (95 graduates), and SAE Institute of Technology, Nashville (32 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 2 in 2010 to a peak of 561 in 2020, before declining slightly to 432 in 2023-24. This represents a 21,500% 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.
Related Arts Programs
Explore similar degree programs within the Arts field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.
Interior Design
A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to apply artistic principles and techniques to the professional planning, designing, equipping, and...
Graphic Design
A program that prepares individuals to apply artistic and computer techniques to the interpretation of technical and commercial concepts. Includes instruction in computer-assisted...
Illustration
A program that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to develop and execute interpretations of the concepts of authors and designers to specifications....
Game and Interactive Media Design
A program that focuses on the design, development, and programming of interactive media entertainment, including computer and video games, virtual environments, Internet applications,...
Applied Arts and Design
Any instructional program in design and applied arts not listed above.
Theatre Arts
A program that focuses on the general study of dramatic works and their performance. Includes instruction in major works of dramatic literature, dramatic...