My understanding is that Williams and Tufts are considered the most prestigious terminal MA programs in the U.S. They both have funding available for top candidates. Delaware is pretty good, too (esp. for material culture, where it is considered the best), as are some of the other programs listed above. You can also consider going abroad for the MA (I have met lots of successful people from the Courtauld, which is only 1 year long and so is a $$ saver). One thing that my various advisors have always stressed to me is that one shouldn't do a terminal MA without funding - most of the time you are just helping to fund the department's doctoral students, and those programs are generally held in lower regard, even if they are part of otherwise prestigious institutions. No to poopoo those who can afford it/have gone that route, but if you don't have independent means it isn't worth it, IMO, to go deep into debt just so you can get a low-paying museum job or get paid ~$20k/year as a PhD. student. Perhaps better to gain more work, research, or language experience and try to go straight for the PhD. I did that and it has worked out great, though of course there are multiple paths to success. Just a word to the wise/my 2 cents.