U.S. median for this major: $49,176.
College Scorecard field of study; 216 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 51% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,726.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $51,889. College Scorecard.
Columbia College Chicago Arts and Entertainment Management: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Illinois colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Arts and Entertainment Management nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Columbia College Chicago's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $20,924 | $90,810 | 6.1 years |
| $30–48k | $21,423 | $92,976 | 6.3 years |
| $48–75k | $25,590 | $111,061 | 7.5 years |
| $75–110k | $31,677 | $137,478 | 9.3 years |
| $110k+ | $36,436 | $158,132 | 10.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (39% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Arts and Entertainment Management graduates 4 years after graduating ($50,592) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $14,795 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Arts and Entertainment Management at Illinois colleges
Every Illinois college we cover that reports Arts and Entertainment Management graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia College Chicago | $50,592 | $26,000 | $26,598 | 52% |
| 2 | Elmhurst University | $41,122 | $26,125 | $24,185 | 70% |
11 more Illinois colleges offer Arts and Entertainment Management but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Arts and Entertainment Management graduates
Producers and Directors
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +4.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +9.7% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Music Directors and Composers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +1.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Columbia College Chicago, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Columbia College Chicago
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 52% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $42,195
- Full cost breakdown · all 26 majors · overview
Related majors at Columbia College Chicago
- Theatre$39,986
- Music$40,734
- Film and Photography$41,200
- Business Administration$56,482
- Broadcasting / Digital Media$54,357
Columbia College Chicago Arts and Entertainment Management questions
How much do Columbia College Chicago Arts and Entertainment Management graduates earn?
Arts and Entertainment Management graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median $50,592 four years after graduating and $23,844 one year after. The U.S. median for Arts and Entertainment Management graduates across 40 colleges is $49,176.
How much debt do Columbia College Chicago Arts and Entertainment Management graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Arts and Entertainment Management graduates of Columbia College Chicago is $26,000, about 51% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,726.
Where does Columbia College Chicago rank for Arts and Entertainment Management in Illinois?
Of 2 Illinois colleges reporting Arts and Entertainment Management graduate earnings, Columbia College Chicago ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Arts and Entertainment Management graduates get?
A common career is producers and directors, with a median wage of $85,040 in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN area and $90,360 nationally. Others include agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes and music directors and composers.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Columbia College Chicago Arts and Entertainment Management: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/columbia-college-chicago/majors/arts-and-entertainment-management (College Scorecard and BLS data).