2027 Best Value Music Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Music Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/music-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 64 schools to find the best return on investment for music education students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Music Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Music Education Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago tops our 2027 list of the best value music education schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $17,125. Music Education graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $61,829 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $19,137. Early-career music education graduates make about $66,254. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Students borrow a median of $25,972 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $58,637 early in their careers. Set against $25,972 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Xavier University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,945. Music Education graduates carry a median of $27,194 in student loans. Music Education graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $46,835 early in their careers. Set against $27,194 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $51,105. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Indiana State University landed the #6 spot for music education value this year. Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Terre Haute. Students from in state pay about $10,258 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $27,000. Music Education graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $45,862 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Indiana State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Indiana University South Bend ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Set in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Students borrow a median of $26,498 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $47,733. That is a strong return on a $26,498 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University placed #8 among the best values for music education. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Music Education graduates carry a median of $24,998 in student loans. Music Education graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $49,745 early in their careers. Set against $24,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Flint came in at #9 for value in music education this year. University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. Students from in state pay about $14,236 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,790 for out-of-state students. Music Education graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $43,077. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Flint admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of River Falls. In-state tuition and fees average $9,008, while out-of-state students pay about $17,470. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $26,000. Early-career music education graduates make about $43,296. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of Wisconsin River Falls admits about 82% of applicants.
Albion College placed #11 among the best values for music education. Located in the town of Albion, Albion College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,950. Music Education graduates carry a median of $26,047 in student loans. Music Education graduates of Albion College earn a median of $43,301 early in their careers. Set against $26,047 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #12 for value in music education this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Music Education graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $50,587. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point landed the #13 spot for music education value this year. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $18,248. Students borrow a median of $25,719 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $40,005. Set against $25,719 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point admits about 92% of applicants.
Northern Michigan University came in at #14 for value in music education this year. Located in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,322, while out-of-state students pay about $19,944. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Northern Michigan University generally make around $48,767. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Northern Michigan University admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Located in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,532, with out-of-state students paying around $16,446. Music Education graduates carry a median of $28,500 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $51,022. That is a strong return on a $28,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Youngstown State University came in at #16 for value in music education this year. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, while out-of-state students pay about $10,286. Music Education graduates carry a median of $26,751 in student loans. Music Education graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $33,398 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $23,250. Music Education graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $49,282 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #18 for value in music education this year. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,532, while out-of-state students pay about $22,887. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $30,000. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne generally make around $43,576. Set against $30,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
College Of Mount St Joseph earned the #19 position for value in music education this year. College Of Mount St Joseph is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Cincinnati. Students from in state pay about $38,150 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $28,273. Early-career music education graduates make about $69,964. Set against $28,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. College Of Mount St Joseph admits about 59% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #20 spot for music education value this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $45,966 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Carroll University earned the #21 position for value in music education this year. Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waukesha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,890. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $26,904. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Carroll University generally make around $52,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Akron Main Campus placed #22 among the best values for music education. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $27,000. Music Education graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $39,613 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University placed #23 among the best values for music education. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $29,000. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $48,382. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #24 among the best values for music education. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $27,750. Early-career music education graduates make about $43,128. Set against $27,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
Wright State University Main Campus landed the #25 spot for music education value this year. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,991 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $43,003 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Music Education Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for music education this year:
Narrow Music Education Schools by State
More Music Education Rankings
View All Music Education Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 64 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 64 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
