5 Most Affordable Master’s in Entertainment Management Online in 2021

Updated on June 25, 2021

Auditioning for affordable online master's in entertainment management programs could present a cost-effective advantage over cutthroat competition for successfully starring in media leadership jobs with behind-the-scenes action. According to Billboard, the entertainment business is worth $632.09 billion domestically and $2.152 trillion globally. Upper-level opportunities abound in several niches like film, music, theatre arts, and publishing. Online master's degrees can give 24/7 Web access to executive instruction that nurtures strategic skills for producing enjoyable entertainment audiences applaud. Besides the glitz and glamour of larger paychecks, attending graduate school can deepen your industry-specific managerial prowess for better hirability. Fast Company reported that 27 percent of U.S. organizations bumped bachelor's-level jobs up to master's qualifications. Online colleges are often the cheaper, easier routes toward booking dream administrative roles with entertainment master's credentials.

Explore these promoted online degree programs.

These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online graduate degree programs. Figuring out where to apply? Consider one of these online Master's or PhD programs.

5 Most Affordable Entertainment Management Master's Online in 2021

Related reading:15 Most Affordable Master's in Public Relations Online

Other Master's in Entertainment Management Online Degree Offerings

Rowan University

M.A. in Theatre Arts Administration Online

Average Graduate Tuition: $12,960 per year

Full Sail University (Only possesses national ACCSC accreditation)

Online Master of Science in Entertainment Business

Average Graduate Tuition: $16,401 per year

Southern New Hampshire University

MBA in Music Business Online

Average Graduate Tuition: $18,810 per year

Roosevelt University

Online Master's in Performing Arts Administration (MA)

Average Graduate Tuition: $18,996 per year

Drexel University

Master of Science in Television Management Online

Average Graduate Tuition: $32,184 per year

Savannah College of Art and Design

Online M.A. Degree in Business Design and Arts Leadership

Average Graduate Tuition: $36,045 per year

The New School

Master of Science in Media Management Online

Average Graduate Tuition: $42,610 per year

Which Careers Benefit From Master's in Entertainment Management Online Study?

Finding funds like the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' $2,500 Mark Beaumont Scholarship to cover entertainment management master's online programs would open a plethora of senior-level jobs. Entertainment management majors are equipped to handle the business side of artistic expression and creative development like MBAs. Online master's courses are flexible enough to pursue along with career-boosting entertainment internships with companies like Warner Bros, Paramount, CBS, Sony, Penguin Random House, and more. Your graduate degree could even be paired with industry credentials, such as Certified Special Event Professional and Certified Talent Management Specialist. Let's explore six potential job descriptions available from New York to Hollywood for online master's in entertainment management grads:

Art Director- Recognized for America's #3 best creative job by the U.S. News & World Report, art directors are the masterminds behind groundbreaking designs for magazine spreads, TV commercials, websites, movies, and more. Getting a master's in entertainment management online would prepare for graduates for supervising media staff, setting stylistic direction, outlining production goals, targeting audiences, sticking to budgets, and meeting tight deadlines.

Music Business Manager- Though their names aren't famous like Beyonce or Justin Timberlake, music business managers are pivotal for handling the financial affairs of high-profile singers with multi-million accounts. Their responsibilities include tour budgeting, protecting assets, filing taxes, negotiating contracts, tracking album royalties, overseeing investments, selecting insurance, recovering unpaid fees, analyzing endorsements, and doing payroll.

Television Producer-Business Insider reports that American adults watch 35 hours of TV weekly on average, so a cheap entertainment management master's could serve well in the cable and Internet viewing industry. Television producers select viable scripts, raise investor support, settle budgets, hire cast and crew, oversee timely productions, tweak designs, direct post-production editing, handle network feedback, and promote shows to fans.

Talent Agent- Show business characters rely on licensed talent agents to promote their best interests during gigs for a maximum 10 percent cut of earnings. Finishing an online master's in entertainment management might help agents construct positive client images, orchestrate auditions, collaborate with casting directors, locate fresh talent, procure endorsements, fight for beneficial contracts, schedule appearances, and update portfolios or resumes.

Museum Curator- Displaying an entertainment management master's online could open gallery doors for curator jobs since the Washington Post reported that the number of museums has doubled to 35,000 since 1990. From the Smithsonian to the Met, museum curators acquire artistic or historic collections, create exhibit designs, organize tours, direct technical staff, oversee piece restorations, secure archive storage, and attract media buzz.

Gaming Manager- Graded "A" by OwlGuru, gaming management is another potential job for online master's in entertainment grads to hit the career jackpot and take the reins of casino operations. Gaming managers form house rules, book musicians or performers, promote special events, staff tables, review betting accounts, coordinate beverage services, track cash flow, remove suspected cheaters, set security protocol, and address guest complaints.

How Much Do Entertainment Management Master's Online Graduates Make?

Investments in cheap entertainment master's online programs can reap big returns with income that's significantly higher than the median post-grad salary of $60,000 on the NCES. In Los Angeles County, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce reported that the mean entertainment wage was $117,000 in 2011. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the 13,470 entertainment business managers and agents nationwide make $86,560, or $41.62 per hour, on average. Art directors bring home an average salary of $101,170. Producers and directors snag mean income of $93,850. Publicists manage median pay of $107,320 annually. On Salary.com, entertainment technical directors earn $104,988. Other high averages include $85,525 for creative managers, $62,337 for casting directors, $79,895 for media operations managers, and $67,437 for museum exhibit designers.

What is the Job Outlook With Online Entertainment Management Master's Degrees?

Entertainment employment can be tricky to predict with market fads, but signs are looking good. CMO Today's Entertainment Outlook recognized the explosion of digital TV, videos on-demand, virtual reality, and wearable media. Sixty percent of U.S. consumers now use streaming devices for bingeworthy content!

Audience interest is expected to spark faster-than-average job growth of 10 percent in entertainment occupations by 2026 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of producers and directors will soar by 12 percent for 16,500 new jobs. Art directors will see positions rise by 5 percent from 90,300 to 95,200 this decade. Projected job growth is also currently 14 percent for curators, 13 percent for talent scouts, and 6 percent for music directors. Choose from these online master's in entertainment management to improve career prospects without breaking the bank or a leg.

Still Looking for the Right Fit? Explore Additional Programs.

Sources:

BillboardFast CompanyNCES College Navigator

This concludes our list of the 5 most affordable online master's in entertainment management programs.

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