2027 Best Value Music Education Schools in Indiana

[Music Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/music-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music education students.
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2027 Best Value Music Education Schools in Indiana
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Music Education Schools
For return on investment in music education, no school beat Indiana State University this year. Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Terre Haute. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,258, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Music Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Indiana State University generally make around $45,862. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Students looking for strong value in music education will find it at Ball State University, which ranked #2. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Music Education graduates carry a median of $24,998 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $49,745. That is a strong return on a $24,998 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
A rank of #3 makes Indiana University South Bend one of the best values for music education. Located in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Set against $26,498 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University South Bend admits about 84% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. 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. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fort Wayne. In-state tuition and fees average $9,532, with out-of-state students paying around $22,887. Music Education graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $43,576. Set against $30,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne admits about 84% of applicants.
Bethel College Mishawaka came in at #6 for value in music education this year. Bethel College Mishawaka is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Mishawaka. Students from in state pay about $34,600 in tuition and fees. Music Education graduates carry a median of $31,824 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Bethel College Mishawaka generally make around $47,387. That is a strong return on a $31,824 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana Wesleyan University came in at #7 for value in music education this year. Indiana Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Marion. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,352. Students borrow a median of $24,875 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Indiana Wesleyan University generally make around $42,099. That is a strong return on a $24,875 median debt. Indiana Wesleyan University admits about 89% of applicants.
Taylor University placed #8 among the best values for music education. Set in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,490. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $45,090. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Taylor University admits about 74% of applicants.
Anderson University Indiana ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Set in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Indiana is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,240. Music Education graduates carry a median of $29,137 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $46,637. That is a strong return on a $29,137 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Butler University came in at #10 for value in music education this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,560. Music Education graduates carry a median of $25,351 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Butler University generally make around $68,222. That is a strong return on a $25,351 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
More Music Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.