Artist Manager Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an artist manager. Artist managers usually study business, entertainment business, or communication. 72% of artist managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 12% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 987 real artist manager resumes to see exactly what artist manager education sections show.

The most common colleges for artist managers are the Full Sail University and the Full Sail University.

There are also many online artist manager courses to help get the education required to be an artist manager.

What education do you need to become an artist manager?

What degree do you need to be an artist manager?

The most common degree for artist managers is bachelor's degree, with 72% of artist managers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 12% and associate degree degree at 8%.
  • Bachelor's, 72%
  • Associate, 12%
  • High School Diploma, 8%
  • Master's, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become an artist manager?

You should major in business to become an artist manager. 19% of artist managers major in business. Other common majors for an artist manager include entertainment business and communication.

Most common colleges for artist managers

Artist managers often get their degrees at Full Sail University, New York University, and University of Southern California. Here are the most common colleges for artist managers in the US based on their resumes.
Artist Manager Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
Full Sail University18.33%
New York University6.67%
University of Southern California5.83%
Berklee College of Music5.83%
Columbia College Chicago5.83%

Best majors for artist managers

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Business18.6%
2Entertainment Business12.2%
3Communication10.8%
4Music8.4%
5Marketing6.3%

Best colleges for artist managers

The best colleges for artist managers are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and University of Southern California.

An artist manager with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for artist managers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become artist managers.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Music
Communication
Psychology
Entertainment Business

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

Website

www.stanford.edu/

Address

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-2061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $92,800 per year

Net Price: $12,265 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.36%
SAT Average - 1497
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Music
Political Science
English

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

Website

www.usc.edu/

Address

University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0012

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,400 per year

Net Price: $30,453 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 12.96%
SAT Average - 1445
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Communication
Music
Photography
Psychology

4. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

Website

www.sdsu.edu

Address

5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA 92182-8000

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,600 per year

Net Price: $15,287 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 34.58%
SAT Average - 1213
ACT Average - 25
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Criminal Justice
Communication
Fine Arts

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

Website

www.bu.edu

Address

One Silber Way, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02215

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $52,800 per year

Net Price: $30,729 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.09%
SAT Average - 1420
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Communication
Music
Psychology
Marketing

20 best online courses for artist managers

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Top 10 most affordable universities for artist managers

The most affordable schools for artist managers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for artist managers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for artist managers.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,262

Cost of Attendance

14,046

Website

www.baruch.cuny.edu

Address

One Bernard Baruch Way, New York, NY 10010

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,500 per year

Net Price: $2,981 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 39.29%
SAT Average - 1305
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Political Science
Marketing
Liberal Arts

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Cost of Attendance

21,034

Website

www.ufl.edu/

Address

300 SW 13th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,700 per year

Net Price: $8,057 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 38.75%
SAT Average - 1362
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Public Relations
Political Science
Marketing

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,309

Cost of Attendance

16,714

Website

www.csub.edu

Address

9001 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,100 per year

Net Price: $5,687 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 23.02%
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Education
Psychology
Criminal Justice

4. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,656

Cost of Attendance

21,623

Website

www.fsu.edu

Address

222 South Copeland Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1470

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,700 per year

Net Price: $10,744 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 36.78%
SAT Average - 1289
ACT Average - 28
Most Popular Majors
Psychology
Marketing
English
Music
Business

5. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,798

Cost of Attendance

18,306

Website

www.csulb.edu

Address

1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90840-0115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $40,000 per year

Net Price: $8,982 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 31.21%
SAT Average - 1146
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Communication
Fine Arts
English

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for artist managers

The hardest universities for artist managers to get into are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for artist managers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for artist managers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Music
Communication
Psychology
Entertainment Business

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

4%

SAT Average

1,497

Website

www.stanford.edu/

Address

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-2061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $92,800 per year

Net Price: $12,265 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.36%
SAT Average - 1497
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Music
Political Science
English

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,445

Website

www.usc.edu/

Address

University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0012

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,400 per year

Net Price: $30,453 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 12.96%
SAT Average - 1445
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Communication
Music
Photography
Psychology

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

22%

SAT Average

1,420

Website

www.bu.edu

Address

One Silber Way, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02215

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $52,800 per year

Net Price: $30,729 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.09%
SAT Average - 1420
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Communication
Music
Psychology
Marketing

5. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions Rate

42%

SAT Average

1,380

Website

https://www.gwu.edu

Address

1918 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20052

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $58,600 per year

Net Price: $33,734 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 41.87%
SAT Average - 1380
ACT Average - 31
Most Popular Majors
Political Science
Business
Music
Marketing
Communication

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for artist managers

The easiest schools for artist managers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, barry university, and notre dame de namur university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an artist manager without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for artist managers.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions Rate

68%

SAT Average

964

Website

www.okwu.edu

Address

2201 Silver Lake Rd, Bartlesville, OK 74006-6299

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $50,500 per year

Net Price: $26,279 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 67.73%
SAT Average - 964
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Education
Psychology
Marketing
Accounting

2. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

Website

www.barry.edu

Address

11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,700 per year

Net Price: $17,937 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 91.25%
SAT Average - 1006
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Liberal Arts
Psychology
Public Relations
Photography

3. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

82%

SAT Average

983

Website

www.ndnu.edu

Address

1500 Ralston Ave, Belmont, CA 94002-1908

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,000 per year

Net Price: $25,610 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 81.52%
SAT Average - 983
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Communication

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions Rate

90%

SAT Average

994

Website

www.notredamecollege.edu

Address

4545 College Rd, Cleveland, OH 44121-4293

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $37,000 per year

Net Price: $21,651 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 89.65%
SAT Average - 994
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Psychology
Criminal Justice
Communication

5. Bluefield College

Bluefield, VA • Private

Admissions Rate

95%

SAT Average

980

Website

www.bluefield.edu

Address

3000 College Dr, Bluefield, VA 24605

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,400 per year

Net Price: $21,997 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 95.36%
SAT Average - 980
ACT Average - 18
Most Popular Majors
Business
Criminal Justice
Education
Liberal Arts
Psychology

Average artist manager salary by education level

Artist managers with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $83,103 annually. With a Associate degree, artist managers earn a median annual income of $75,642 compared to $59,159 for artist managers with an High School Diploma degree.
Artist Manager education level
ascdesc
Artist Manager salary
ascdesc
High School Diploma or Less$59,159
Bachelor's Degree$83,103
Some College/ Associate Degree$75,642

Artist Manager Education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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