2026 Best Value Museum Studies Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Museum Studies master’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 95 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, 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 Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
For return on investment, no school beat Texas Tech University this year in the United States. Texas Tech University is a public school based in Lubbock, TX. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. The median Museum Studies program debt is $24,271. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $62,454. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas Tech University has an acceptance rate of 73%. Read more about Texas Tech University
A rank of #2 makes University Of San Francisco one of the best values in the United States. Based in San Francisco, CA, University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,522. Typical Museum Studies student debt is $23,935. University Of San Francisco alumni report median earnings of $89,812 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of San Francisco
You'll get strong value at University Of Kansas, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Lawrence, KS, University Of Kansas is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,945 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,608 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%. See the full University Of Kansas profile
Out of the 95 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, New York University landed the #4 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete their Museum Studies program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $82,509. Set against $21,897 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New York University admits about 9% of applicants. Get the full New York University report
You'll get strong value at University Of Washington Seattle Campus, which ranked #5 this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school based in Seattle, WA. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Typical Museum Studies student debt is $16,481. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $78,466. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%. Get the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny College At Oneonta earned it the #5 place in the United States. Suny College At Oneonta is a public school based in Oneonta, NY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,831, with out-of-state students paying around $19,781. Graduates carry a median of $22,046 in student loans. Median earnings reach $60,386 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny College At Oneonta admits about 70% of applicants. Read the full report on Suny College At Oneonta
George Washington University came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. George Washington University is a private not-for-profit school based in Washington, DC. Students from in state pay about $67,710 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete their Museum Studies program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $90,873 ten years after entry. Set against $22,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 47% of applicants are accepted. Read more about George Washington University
San Francisco State University placed #8 among the best-value Museum Studies schools in the United States. This public school is set in San Francisco, CA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,846, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. The median Museum Studies program debt is $17,024. San Francisco State University alumni report median earnings of $68,077 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $17,024 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%. Read the full report on San Francisco State University
Tufts University offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Medford, MA, Tufts University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,704 in tuition and fees. Typical Museum Studies student debt is $17,074. Median earnings reach $83,214 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 12%. More on Tufts University
Georgetown University landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Washington, DC. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete their Museum Studies program here. Median earnings reach $103,494 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $16,483 median debt. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted. More on Georgetown University
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Indianapolis, IN, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Typical Museum Studies student debt is $23,146. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,198 ten years after entry. Set against $23,146 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted. More on Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Johns Hopkins University offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $87,555. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants. Get the full Johns Hopkins University report
University Of Colorado Boulder placed #13 among the best-value Museum Studies schools in the United States. Based in Boulder, CO, University Of Colorado Boulder is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. University Of Colorado Boulder Museum Studies students take on a median of $20,373 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $69,738 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $20,373 median debt. About 78% of those who apply are admitted. More on University Of Colorado Boulder
University Of Florida offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. This public school is set in Gainesville, FL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. 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 admits about 24% of applicants. Read more about University Of Florida
Baylor University came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Located in Waco, TX, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $58,100 in tuition and fees. Typical Museum Studies student debt is $23,928. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $65,793. That is a strong return on a $23,928 median debt. The acceptance rate is 51%. Read the full report on Baylor University
University Of New Mexico Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Albuquerque, NM, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,140, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. Students borrow a median of $19,738 to complete their Museum Studies program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $44,792. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%. Get the full University Of New Mexico Main Campus report
Syracuse University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit school based in Syracuse, NY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Typical Museum Studies student debt is $26,130. Syracuse University alumni report median earnings of $79,164 a decade after entry. Set against $26,130 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 46% of those who apply are admitted. More on Syracuse University
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Maryland College Park
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee report
University Of Georgia offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Read more about University Of Georgia
Westminster College Missouri placed #21 among the best-value Museum Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Westminster College Missouri report
University At Buffalo offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Get the full University At Buffalo report
Kansas State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. Read the full report on Kansas State University
The University Of Alabama ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. More on The University Of Alabama
University Of Memphis placed #25 among the best-value Museum Studies schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Memphis report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Museum Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Cuny Queensborough Community College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. Read the full report on Cuny Queensborough Community College
Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture report
Colorado College
Colorado College offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Get the full Colorado College report
Seton Hall University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. More on Seton Hall University
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. See the full University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus profile
Eastern Michigan University came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Eastern Michigan University
University Of West Georgia ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. More on University Of West Georgia
University Of Minnesota Duluth ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. Read more about University Of Minnesota Duluth
California College Of The Arts came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on California College Of The Arts
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #35 among the best-value Museum Studies schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Illinois At Chicago report
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. See the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus profile
Walsh University
Walsh University landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Walsh University report
Fashion Institute Of Technology ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. Read more about Fashion Institute Of Technology
Southern Adventist University offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Read the full report on Southern Adventist University
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus
University Of Oregon came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Oregon report
University Of St Thomas Minnesota offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full University Of St Thomas Minnesota report
Southern University At New Orleans came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Southern University At New Orleans report
University Of Akron Main Campus ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. See the full University Of Akron Main Campus profile
Wright State University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on Wright State University Main Campus
The University Of Tampa ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. More on The University Of Tampa
Earlham College
Earlham College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Museum Studies schools. Read the full report on Earlham College
St Johns University New York placed #48 among the best-value Museum Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on St Johns University New York
Suny College At Buffalo offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. Get the full Suny College At Buffalo report
University Of Central Oklahoma placed #50 among the best-value Museum Studies schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Central Oklahoma report
Related Museum Studies Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at 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 Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Museum Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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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