2027 Best Value Music Education Schools in Illinois
[Music Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/music-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music education students.
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2027 Best Value Music Education Schools in Illinois
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
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Chicago, our #1 best value for music education in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $17,125. Early-career music education graduates make about $61,829. Set against $17,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Saint Xavier University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $38,945 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,194 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $46,835 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,194 median debt. Saint Xavier University admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, 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%.
Concordia University Chicago came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,488. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $27,000. Early-career music education graduates make about $51,796. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $24,149. Early-career music education graduates make about $50,102. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Trinity Christian College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Located in the suburb of Palos Heights, Trinity Christian College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,605. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $27,000. Early-career music education graduates make about $48,400. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Vandercook College Of Music ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Vandercook College Of Music is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,910. Music Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $43,100. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Vandercook College Of Music admits about 90% of applicants.
Roosevelt University landed the #8 spot for music education value this year. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $21,315 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,879 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $50,101. That is a strong return on a $23,879 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Olivet Nazarene University landed the #9 spot for music education value this year. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. In-state tuition and fees average $38,900. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $51,475. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Millikin University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Located in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $26,792 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Millikin University generally make around $43,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Bradley University came in at #11 for value in music education this year. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,160. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $42,917. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Augustana College Illinois earned the #12 position for value in music education this year. Located in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,598. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $45,145 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Elmhurst College landed the #13 spot for music education value this year. Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,955. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Elmhurst College generally make around $46,789. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Mckendree University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Located in the suburb of Lebanon, Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,740 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,362 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $51,068. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Depaul University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Music Education graduates carry a median of $26,910 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $52,130. That is a strong return on a $26,910 median debt. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
More Music Education Rankings
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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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
