2027 Best Value Music Education Schools in Ohio
[Music Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/music-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong music education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for music education students.
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2027 Best Value Music Education Schools in Ohio
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 Ohio State University Main Campus this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Music Education graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Music Education graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $49,282 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
College Of Mount St Joseph is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #2 spot 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. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from College Of Mount St Joseph generally make around $69,964. That is a strong return on a $28,273 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
Youngstown State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $26,751. Early-career music education graduates make about $33,398. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wright State University Main Campus earned it the #4 place for music education. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Music Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $43,003. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Akron Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,135 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $39,613. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #6 spot for music education value this year. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $47,727 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Ashland University came in at #7 for value in music education this year. Located in the town of Ashland, Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,210 in tuition and fees. Music Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Ashland University generally make around $44,979. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Capital University placed #8 among the best values for music education. Located in the suburb of Columbus, Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $43,234. Music Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $32,597. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University came in at #9 for value in music education this year. Located in the town of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,193. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Mount Vernon Nazarene University earn a median of $32,508 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mount Union ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Located in the town of Alliance, University Of Mount Union is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,600. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $26,988. Music Education graduates of University Of Mount Union earn a median of $52,058 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,988 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for music education value this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $26,642. Early-career music education graduates make about $46,368. Set against $26,642 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Cedarville University earned the #12 position for value in music education this year. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,150. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $21,000. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $38,378. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cedarville University admits about 65% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for music education. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $23,000. Early-career music education graduates make about $41,843. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Baldwin Wallace College placed #14 among the best values for music education. Located in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,832. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $27,000. Music Education graduates of Baldwin Wallace College earn a median of $44,216 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Miami University Oxford came in at #15 for value in music education this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,560 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $46,681 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
More Music Education Rankings
View All Music Education Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 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.
