2026 Best Museum Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Museum Studies graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 95 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor reviewed schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Museum Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Tufts University to be the best Museum Studies school in the United States. Located in Medford, MA, Tufts University is a private not-for-profit institution. Tufts University posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,704. The median Museum Studies program debt is $17,074. Read more about Tufts University
The strong Museum Studies programs at Johns Hopkins University earned it the #2 place in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Baltimore, MD. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete their Museum Studies program here. Get the full Johns Hopkins University report
New York University came in at #3 on this year's Museum Studies ranking in the United States. New York University is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. The median Museum Studies program debt is $21,897. Read more about New York University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #4 on this year's Museum Studies ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Ann Arbor, MI. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical Museum Studies student debt is $19,137. More on University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
George Washington University came in at #5 on this year's Museum Studies ranking in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Washington, DC. George Washington University posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. In-state tuition and fees average $67,710. George Washington University Museum Studies students take on a median of $22,910 in debt. Read more about George Washington University
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in College Park, MD. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. University Of Maryland College Park Museum Studies students take on a median of $20,836 in debt. See the full University Of Maryland College Park profile
University Of Kansas ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Museum Studies schools. Located in Lawrence, KS, University Of Kansas is a public institution. University Of Kansas graduates 69% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. University Of Kansas Museum Studies students take on a median of $23,608 in debt. More on University Of Kansas
University Of Iowa ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Museum Studies schools. Set in Iowa City, IA, University Of Iowa is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Typical Museum Studies student debt is $21,295. See the full University Of Iowa profile
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Museum Studies schools. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public school based in Edwardsville, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. Typical Museum Studies student debt is $23,917. See the full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville profile
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in Milwaukee, WI, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates 53% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Students borrow a median of $26,657 to complete their Museum Studies program here. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Museum Studies schools. Located in Cincinnati, OH, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical Museum Studies student debt is $23,530. Get the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus report
University Of Florida landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Located in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Typical Museum Studies student debt is $17,669. See the full University Of Florida profile
Michigan State University placed #13 among Museum Studies schools in the United States. Set in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Michigan State University Museum Studies students take on a median of $25,213 in debt. Read more about Michigan State University
University Of Arizona came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Set in Tucson, AZ, University Of Arizona is a public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. Read more about University Of Arizona
University Of Oregon landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. Located in Eugene, OR, University Of Oregon is a public institution. University Of Oregon graduates 72% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,320, while out-of-state students pay about $42,516. Graduates carry a median of $22,034 in student loans. See the full University Of Oregon profile
University Of Memphis did well this year, earning the #16 position. This public school is set in Memphis, TN. University Of Memphis posts a six-year graduation rate of 51%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Graduates carry a median of $26,315 in student loans. Read more about University Of Memphis
University Of Georgia came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Based in Athens, GA, University Of Georgia is a public institution. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Typical Museum Studies student debt is $21,792. Read the full report on University Of Georgia
Eastern Michigan University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Museum Studies schools. This public school is set in Ypsilanti, MI. Eastern Michigan University posts a six-year graduation rate of 46%. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,990. Typical Museum Studies student debt is $28,781. See the full Eastern Michigan University profile
Cuny Hunter College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Museum Studies schools. Set in New York, NY, Cuny Hunter College is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. The median Museum Studies program debt is $11,091. Read the full report on Cuny Hunter College
Seton Hall University landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Seton Hall University
Middlebury College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Get the full Middlebury College report
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Museum Studies schools. Read the full report on Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
School Of Visual Arts did well this year, earning the #23 position. Get the full School Of Visual Arts report
John Tyler Community College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Get the full John Tyler Community College report
Marist College
Marist College landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Marist College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Museum Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
University Of South Dakota did well this year, earning the #26 position. Read more about University Of South Dakota
Humboldt State University came in at #27 in this year's ranking. More on Humboldt State University
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus
Trinity College
Trinity College came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Get the full Trinity College report
New Mexico State University Main Campus placed #30 among Museum Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on New Mexico State University Main Campus
University Of San Francisco placed #31 among Museum Studies schools in the United States. See the full University Of San Francisco profile
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #32 in this year's ranking. More on University Of South Carolina Columbia
Walsh University
Walsh University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Museum Studies schools. Read the full report on Walsh University
Drexel University did well this year, earning the #34 position. Read more about Drexel University
Long Island University C W Post Campus landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Long Island University C W Post Campus
Colorado College
Colorado College landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Colorado College report
Georgetown University landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. More on Georgetown University
Baylor University placed #38 among Museum Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Baylor University
Concordia College At Moorhead did well this year, earning the #39 position. Read more about Concordia College At Moorhead
Syracuse University did well this year, earning the #40 position. Read the full report on Syracuse University
Morgan State University ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Museum Studies schools. See the full Morgan State University profile
Texas Tech University ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Museum Studies schools. Read the full report on Texas Tech University
University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Museum Studies schools. Read more about University Of Colorado Boulder
University Of West Georgia placed #44 among Museum Studies schools in the United States. Get the full University Of West Georgia report
Southern Adventist University placed #45 among Museum Studies schools in the United States. See the full Southern Adventist University profile
Fashion Institute Of Technology landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. See the full Fashion Institute Of Technology profile
Savannah State University did well this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on Savannah State University
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
St Johns University New York ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Museum Studies schools. See the full St Johns University New York profile
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Museum Studies schools. Read more about University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Related Museum Studies Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Museum Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Museum Studies Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Museum Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Museum Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Museum Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Museum Studies Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Museum Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 95 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).