2027 Best Value Music Education Master’s Degree Schools
[Music Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/music-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. 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 155 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 United States
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
Cuny Hunter College tops our 2027 list of the best value music education schools in the United States. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $73,962. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,452, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Music Education graduates carry a median of $13,178 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $40,843. Set against $13,178 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Students looking for strong value in music education will find it at Cuny Queens College, which ranked #3. Cuny Queens College is a large public school located in the city of Queens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,538, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $16,000. Early-career music education graduates make about $75,530. That is a strong return on a $16,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Florida earned it the #4 place for music education. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $15,275. Early-career music education graduates make about $55,380. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Lehman College earned it the #5 place for music education. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,410, compared with $15,360 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,213 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $80,081 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #6 among the best values for music education. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,125 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $61,829. Set against $17,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Florida State University came in at #7 for value in music education this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $22,500. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $60,227. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #8 position for value in music education this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $20,375. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $55,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #9 among the best values for music education. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $19,137. Early-career music education graduates make about $66,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of Central Florida placed #10 among the best values for music education. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Students borrow a median of $21,088 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $43,460. Set against $21,088 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Music Education graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $65,681. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
New Mexico State University Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,183, with out-of-state students paying around $25,307. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $15,112. Early-career music education graduates make about $45,016. Set against $15,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
Florida International University placed #13 among the best values for music education. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,802 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $59,039. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University came in at #14 for value in music education this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Fresno Pacific University placed #15 among the best values for music education. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,660. Music Education graduates carry a median of $21,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Fresno Pacific University generally make around $60,890. Set against $21,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia came in at #16 for value in music education this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $20,750. Music Education graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $56,374 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,750 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Rhode Island College landed the #17 spot for music education value this year. Located in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,300, compared with $27,299 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,659 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Rhode Island College generally make around $57,458. That is a strong return on a $29,659 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Valdosta State University earned the #18 position for value in music education this year. Valdosta State University is a large public school located in the city of Valdosta. In-state tuition and fees average $6,124, while out-of-state students pay about $17,836. Music Education graduates carry a median of $28,661 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $68,380. That is a strong return on a $28,661 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Music Education graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $55,312. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Murray State University came in at #20 for value in music education this year. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,900 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,420 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Murray State University generally make around $48,423. That is a strong return on a $23,420 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro landed the #21 spot for music education value this year. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $43,033. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Eastern Washington University placed #22 among the best values for music education. Eastern Washington University is a very large public school located in the town of Cheney. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,586, while out-of-state students pay about $26,583. Students borrow a median of $23,009 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $41,914. Set against $23,009 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Washington University admits about 91% of applicants.
Suny College At Buffalo earned the #23 position for value in music education this year. Located in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,533, while out-of-state students pay about $19,653. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Suny College At Buffalo earn a median of $53,042 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Buffalo admits about 73% of applicants.
Truman State University came in at #24 for value in music education this year. Truman State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kirksville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,838, with out-of-state students paying around $18,566. Students borrow a median of $23,168 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $39,321. Set against $23,168 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $21,842. Music Education graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $54,028 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Music Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in music education:
Other Music Education Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Music Education rankings across degree levels:
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 · 155 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 155 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.
