2026 Best Value Museum Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Museum Studies graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 95 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Museum Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Edwardsville, IL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,092. Typical Museum Studies student debt is $23,917. Median earnings reach $56,346 ten years out. Set against $23,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants. Read more about Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Memphis earned it the #2 place in the United States. University Of Memphis is a public school based in Memphis, TN. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Typical Museum Studies student debt is $26,315. University Of Memphis alumni report median earnings of $48,458 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,315 median debt. About 72% of those who apply are admitted. See the full University Of Memphis profile
A rank of #3 makes University Of Kansas one of the best values in the United States. This public school is set in Lawrence, KS. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete their Museum Studies program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $61,945. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kansas has an acceptance rate of 94%. Read the full report on University Of Kansas
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned it the #4 place in the United States. Set in Milwaukee, WI, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Graduates carry a median of $26,657 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,990. That is a strong return on a $26,657 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee has an acceptance rate of 91%. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee report
A rank of #5 makes George Washington University one of the best values in the United States. Based in Washington, DC, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,710. Graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans. George Washington University alumni report median earnings of $90,873 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $22,910 median debt. George Washington University has an acceptance rate of 47%. See the full George Washington University profile
University Of Iowa came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Iowa City, IA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,295 in student loans. Median earnings reach $64,762 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted. More on University Of Iowa
New York University landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. New York University is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Typical Museum Studies student debt is $21,897. Median earnings reach $82,509 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New York University has an acceptance rate of 9%. Read the full report on New York University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. This public school is set in Cincinnati, OH. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete their Museum Studies program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,810 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%. See the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus profile
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in College Park, MD, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Typical Museum Studies student debt is $20,836. Median earnings reach $82,860 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $20,836 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%. More on University Of Maryland College Park
University Of Florida came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Located in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. University Of Florida alumni report median earnings of $71,588 a decade after entry. Set against $17,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida has an acceptance rate of 24%. Read more about University Of Florida
Tufts University placed #11 among the best-value Museum Studies schools in the United States. Tufts University is a private not-for-profit school based in Medford, MA. Students from in state pay about $70,704 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete their Museum Studies program here. Median earnings reach $83,214 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $17,074 median debt. The acceptance rate is 12%. Get the full Tufts University report
University Of Georgia ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. Based in Athens, GA, University Of Georgia is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. University Of Georgia Museum Studies students take on a median of $21,792 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $68,726. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 38% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about University Of Georgia
University Of Oregon offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Eugene, OR, University Of Oregon is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,320, with out-of-state students paying around $42,516. University Of Oregon Museum Studies students take on a median of $22,034 in debt. Median earnings reach $61,324 ten years out. Set against $22,034 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 88% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Oregon
Johns Hopkins University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. Located in Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Median earnings reach $87,555 ten years out. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants. See the full Johns Hopkins University profile
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #16 among the best-value Museum Studies schools in the United States. Based in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor Museum Studies students take on a median of $19,137 in debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor alumni report median earnings of $83,648 a decade after entry. Set against $19,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 16% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full University Of Michigan Ann Arbor report
Eastern Michigan University offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Based in Ypsilanti, MI, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,990. Students borrow a median of $28,781 to complete their Museum Studies program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $51,793. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Michigan University has an acceptance rate of 80%. Read more about Eastern Michigan University
University Of Arizona landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Tucson, AZ, University Of Arizona is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. The median Museum Studies program debt is $21,861. University Of Arizona alumni report median earnings of $59,979 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 86% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Arizona
Michigan State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. The median Museum Studies program debt is $25,213. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $67,253. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%. More on Michigan State University
Cuny Hunter College landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in New York, NY, Cuny Hunter College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Typical Museum Studies student debt is $11,091. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,163. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 54%. See the full Cuny Hunter College profile
Tusculum College
Tusculum College offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. More on Tusculum College
University Of St Thomas Minnesota offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read the full report on University Of St Thomas Minnesota
Georgetown University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. More on Georgetown University
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Indiana University Bloomington report
Walsh University
Walsh University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. See the full Walsh University profile
University At Buffalo ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. More on University At Buffalo
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Museum Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Randolph College
Randolph College placed #26 among the best-value Museum Studies schools in the United States. See the full Randolph College profile
Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Oklahoma State University Main Campus profile
Long Island University C W Post Campus ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. Read the full report on Long Island University C W Post Campus
Augusta University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. Read the full report on Augusta University
Seton Hall University ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. See the full Seton Hall University profile
Middlebury College offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Read the full report on Middlebury College
Colorado College
Colorado College offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Read more about Colorado College
Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture
Wayne State University offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Read the full report on Wayne State University
Southern Adventist University came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. See the full Southern Adventist University profile
Suny College At Oneonta ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. Get the full Suny College At Oneonta report
Westminster College Missouri offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. See the full Westminster College Missouri profile
Concordia College At Moorhead landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Concordia College At Moorhead
New Mexico State University Main Campus landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full New Mexico State University Main Campus profile
Humboldt State University offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Get the full Humboldt State University report
Drexel University ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. Get the full Drexel University report
University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Akron Main Campus report
Harvard University ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. Get the full Harvard University report
Rochester Institute Of Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. See the full Rochester Institute Of Technology profile
John Tyler Community College landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full John Tyler Community College profile
Texas Tech University landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Texas Tech University report
Southern University At New Orleans came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Southern University At New Orleans
Syracuse University ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. Get the full Syracuse University report
Western Illinois University ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. Read more about Western Illinois University
University Of Central Oklahoma ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. Get the full University Of Central Oklahoma report
Related Museum Studies Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Museum Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Museum Studies Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Museum Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Museum Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Museum Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Museum Studies Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Museum Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 · 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).
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