The Cooperstown Graduate Program

What The Cooperstown Graduate Program does

The Cooperstown Graduate Program (CGP) is a two-year graduate education program in museum studies, operating as an academic division of the State University of New York at Oneonta (SUNY Oneonta). Founded in 1964 by Louis C. Jones in partnership with the New York State Historical Association, CGP is one of the oldest museum studies graduate programs in the United States and was the first U.S. program designed specifically to train professionals for history museums. The program enrolls approximately 50 students at any given time, admits roughly 25 per year from 80–100 applicants, and has produced over 900 alumni worldwide who hold leadership roles at major cultural institutions including the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, National Museum of Qatar, Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, The Field Museum, and the National Gallery of Art. Reported placement rates are 90–100% within 12 months of graduation.

CGP offers a unified graduate degree with two specialized tracks: a History Museum Studies track emphasizing civic engagement, collections, fundraising, exhibitions, and administration, and a Science Museum Studies track launched in 2015 — the first master's program of its kind in the United States. The curriculum is project-based and generalist, anchored by 50+ institutional partnerships including the National Baseball Hall of Fame, International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, The Farmers' Museum, Fenimore Art Museum, Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums, and the 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion. The program operates from a purpose-built facility completed in 2011 — the first building in the world designed specifically for museum studies education — and is staffed by five full-time faculty plus numerous part-time adjuncts.

Revenue is generated primarily through graduate tuition charged at SUNY state-university rates, supplemented by an alumni membership program (the Cooperstown Graduate Association, or CGA, at $30 individual/$50 family annually) and an e-commerce merchandise storefront selling branded apparel and accessories. The program does not have proprietary technology, no app or API surface area, and operates without external venture or private equity backing; financial figures are not publicly disclosed. Marketing is conducted through the program's website, organic social (Twitter, Facebook), alumni referrals, and engagement with professional museum conferences and seminars.

Name

The Cooperstown Graduate Program

Legal name

The Cooperstown Graduate Program

Website

https://cgpmuseumstudies.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Cooperstown Graduate Program is a two-year graduate museum studies program at SUNY Oneonta that trains approximately 50 students annually through History and Science Museum Studies tracks, with 900+ alumni placed in museum leadership roles worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Graduate Education — Museum Studies

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Fine Arts Colleges (Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking) (EDAHAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Alumni Career Networking & Mentorship Programs (EDALAOAL)

Keywords

• Museum studies program
• Graduate education
• History museum studies
• Science museum studies
• Museum professional training

Headquarters

HQ city

Cooperstown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Graduate Tuition: The program charges tuition for its graduate degree program, with costs kept lower than many other programs due to SUNY Oneonta affiliation. Students pay state university tuition rates.
2. Merchandise Sales: CGP sells branded merchandise including hoodies ($40), t-shirts ($19), travel mugs ($20), totes ($30), hats ($19), blankets ($38), buttons ($3), window clings ($5), and aprons ($25) through its online store.
3. Alumni Membership (CGA): The Cooperstown Graduate Association offers annual memberships at $30 for individuals and $50 for families, providing alumni benefits and supporting student scholarships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Cooperstown Graduate Program is a two-year graduate degree program in Museum Studies, offered through SUNY Oneonta, that trains creative and entrepreneurial museum leaders through a generalist curriculum and hands-on, project-based learning with real museums and communities. The program operates two specialized tracks — History Museum Studies and Science Museum Studies — and supplements its academic offering with branded merchandise sales and an alumni membership program through the Cooperstown Graduate Association (CGA).

Product overview

The Cooperstown Graduate Program is a two-year graduate program in museum studies offered through SUNY Oneonta. The program consists of a single unified academic offering with two specialized tracks: History Museum Studies and Science Museum Studies. Students receive comprehensive training in all aspects of museum work through a generalist curriculum combined with hands-on projects. The program also maintains a merchandise line sold through its website, including branded apparel (hoodies, t-shirts, hats), accessories (tote bags, travel mugs, aprons), promotional items (buttons, window clings, blankets), and CGA membership subscriptions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Museum Studies Graduate Program Two-year master's degree program in Museum Studies offered through SUNY Oneonta that trains creative, entrepreneurial museum leaders committed to public good through a generalist curriculum and hands-on, project-based learning with real museums and communities. Intended for prospective graduate students pursuing careers in museums, cultural institutions, and nonprofits.
• History Museum Studies Track Specialized track within the Museum Studies Graduate Program emphasizing civic engagement, applied learning, community service, and inclusive museum practice. Covers collections, fundraising, exhibitions, education, and administration. Designed for students targeting careers in history museums and historical societies.
• Science Museum Studies Track First master's program of its kind in the United States, enabling students to collaborate with scientists and learn strategies to communicate science to broad public audiences. Designed for students targeting careers in science centers and science museums.
• Cooperstown Graduate Association (CGA) Membership Annual membership program for CGP alumni and friends, priced at $30 for individuals and $50 for families, providing discounted event access, merchandise discounts, alumni networking, continued learning resources, and support for student scholarships.
• History of the Cooperstown Graduate Program Book Book documenting the program's history from 1964 to present, covering memories, alumni, and how the program has evolved; updated by Class of 2021 students. Sold for $15 through the CGP online store.
• CGP Branded Merchandise Line of branded merchandise sold through the CGP online store, including hoodies ($40), t-shirts ($19), travel mugs ($20), tote bags ($30), hats ($19), blankets ($38), buttons ($3 each), window clings ($5), and aprons ($25). Offered to alumni, students, supporters, and the wider CGP community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90-100% job placement rate within 12 months of graduation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• National Baseball Hall of FamemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGP maintains a relationship with the National Baseball Hall of Fame as one of over 50 partner institutions where students gain hands-on experience.
• International Coalition of Sites of ConsciencemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization where CGP alumni hold senior leadership positions; students benefit from this professional network for internships and employment.
• Glimmerglass FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional arts organization partnered with CGP for student experiential learning opportunities.
• Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional arts institution partnered with CGP for student project opportunities.
• Hanford Mills MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric museum where CGP students complete real-world projects.
• Dyckman Farmhouse AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner museum where CGP students completed community-focused projects including photography walks, raised bed installation, and community programs.
• Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums (MAAM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAAM is one of only six accredited museum associations in the U.S. CGP students in Professor Alexander's Strategic Planning class facilitated the organization's strategic planning process, defining goals and creating a three-year roadmap. One of 50+ institutional partnerships.
• 403rd Civil Affairs BattalionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeven-year partnership where CGP students in Dr. Cynthia Falk's Culture and Collection course developed exercises to instruct soldiers on cultural property identification and protection in combat zones.
• Village Library of CooperstownminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for CGP student projects including the annual Día de los Muertos celebration hosted at the library.
• New York FolkloreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional folklore organization that collaborated with CGP students on the Día de los Muertos program development.
• Yager MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal museum partner collaborated with CGP students on community programming projects.
• Utica, NY Community OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGP Class of 2023 partnered with restaurants, bakeries, and churches in the Greater Utica area to create a website documenting immigrant and food culture.
• Old Sturbridge VillageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest outdoor history museum in the Northeast. CGP students took field trips for immersive learning and interacted with museum professionals including the President and CEO.
• Corning Museum of GlassminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIncluded in CGP field trip itinerary to Western New York museums and cultural organizations.
• Genesee Country Village and MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of CGP's regional institutional partnerships for student experiential learning.
• Rochester Museum and Science CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution visited during CGP field trips for professional exposure and networking.
• The Strong Museum of PlayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIncluded in field trip experiences where alumni share expertise with current students.
• Ganondagan State Historic SiteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous heritage site partner for CGP educational programming.
• George Eastman MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural institution included in CGP's network of professional partnerships.
• Women's Rights National Historical ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational park partner providing educational experiences for CGP students.
• The Farmers' MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner institution affiliated with the same New York State Historical Association foundation as CGP; faculty have curatorial and interpretation experience at this museum.
• Fenimore Art MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner museum where CGP students have installed exhibits in the Community Gallery and Research Library.
• Behold! New LebanonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cultural organization in CGP's partnership network.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian Institution: The Smithsonian operates as a broad incumbent in the museum and cultural-heritage space, offering fellowships, internships, and educational programs that touch museum-studies training. It is an adjacent giant rather than a direct graduate-degree competitor, but competes for the same student talent and employer relationships.

Direct peers

• University of the Arts Museum Studies: University of the Arts in Philadelphia offers museum studies within a broader arts curriculum, competing for applicants interested in museums and cultural-institution careers. Curricular overlap with CGP makes it a relevant direct peer.
• Bank Street College of Education Museum Education Leadership: Bank Street offers graduate programs focused on museum education and leadership, overlapping with CGP's audience of students pursuing museum education and interpretation careers. It is a direct, urban-based competitor.
• New York University Museum Studies: NYU offers graduate-level museum studies training with deep NYC cultural-institution access. Its urban location and NYU brand position it as a primary recruiting competitor to CGP for prospective museum-studies students.
• Tufts University Museum Studies: Tufts' Museum Studies program delivers graduate-level training in museum practice closely comparable to CGP's generalist curriculum, with strong focus on collections, education, and visitor experience. It is a direct competitor for applicants in the Northeast.
• Winterthur Program in American Material Culture: The Winterthur Program (University of Delaware) offers graduate study in American material culture and museum practice, intersecting with CGP's curriculum in collections, preservation, and material culture. It is a direct peer for similar graduate applicants.
• Harvard Extension School Museum Studies: Harvard Extension School offers a graduate-level museum studies track with the Harvard brand and a more flexible, hybrid delivery model. It competes with CGP for adult learners and career changers pursuing museum careers.
• Indiana University Museum Studies: Indiana University offers a graduate museum studies program with strong collections and curatorial emphasis, competing for applicants interested in museum careers. Its midwestern location makes it comparable in scale and mission to CGP.
• George Washington University Museum Studies: GWU's Museum Studies program is one of the most established graduate museum studies offerings in the U.S., training students in collections, exhibitions, and administration. It directly competes with CGP for the same applicant pool of aspiring museum professionals.
• Johns Hopkins University Museum Studies: Johns Hopkins offers a graduate museum studies program with strong research orientation and DC-area cultural-institution partnerships. It competes directly with CGP for graduate students pursuing museum careers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CoopGradProgram?lang=en
• Facebookfacebook.com/CooperstownGraduateProgram
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-cooperstown-graduate-program-at-suny-oneonta

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Cooperstown Graduate Program