2027 Best Value Music Education Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Music Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/music-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 43 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 Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Music Education Schools
Leading the list is Cuny Hunter College, our #1 best value for music education in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $61,604. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,452, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Students borrow a median of $13,178 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $61,164. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
Cuny Queens College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,538, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,000 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $67,212. Set against $16,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Cuny Lehman College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,410, compared with $15,360 for out-of-state students. Music Education graduates carry a median of $13,213 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $90,725. That is a strong return on a $13,213 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the best values for music education. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $57,901. Set against $20,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
Johns Hopkins University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Music Education graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $84,850. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
Kean University placed #7 among the best values for music education. Kean University is a large public school located in the suburb of Union. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,299, compared with $22,446 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,625 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $40,929. That is a strong return on a $29,625 median debt. Kean University admits about 76% of applicants.
Montclair State University landed the #8 spot for music education value this year. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,912, with out-of-state students paying around $26,022. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $27,000. Early-career music education graduates make about $44,369. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny York College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Set in the city of Jamaica, Cuny York College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,358 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,308. Music Education graduates carry a median of $12,573 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $49,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny York College admits about 64% of applicants.
Suny College At Buffalo landed the #10 spot for music education value this year. Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Buffalo. 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 $43,844 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
University Of Delaware placed #11 among the best values for music education. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,810, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. Music Education graduates carry a median of $26,298 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $49,041. That is a strong return on a $26,298 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Towson University earned the #12 position for value in music education this year. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,728, compared with $29,820 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $56,200. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Suny College At Potsdam landed the #13 spot for music education value this year. Set in the town of Potsdam, Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,768, compared with $18,678 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Suny College At Potsdam earn a median of $47,071 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Delaware State University placed #14 among the best values for music education. Set in the city of Dover, Delaware State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,670, compared with $20,634 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $26,333. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Delaware State University generally make around $41,572. That is a strong return on a $26,333 median debt. Roughly 47% of applicants are accepted.
New Jersey City University placed #15 among the best values for music education. Set in the city of Jersey City, New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,460. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $22,107. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from New Jersey City University generally make around $47,083. That is a strong return on a $22,107 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Fredonia placed #16 among the best values for music education. Set in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,831, while out-of-state students pay about $19,771. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Suny At Fredonia earn a median of $41,456 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny At Fredonia admits about 78% of applicants.
York College Pennsylvania placed #17 among the best values for music education. Set in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,588. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $27,000. Early-career music education graduates make about $48,624. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Manhattanville College earned the #18 position for value in music education this year. Manhattanville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Purchase. Students from in state pay about $44,604 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $25,372. Music Education graduates of Manhattanville College earn a median of $46,551 early in their careers. Set against $25,372 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania landed the #19 spot for music education value this year. Set in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,568, while out-of-state students pay about $14,676. Students borrow a median of $26,330 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $54,994 early in their careers. Set against $26,330 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University At Buffalo came in at #20 for value in music education this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $22,232. Early-career music education graduates make about $50,041. That is a strong return on a $22,232 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Rowan University came in at #21 for value in music education this year. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,574 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,932. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $56,365. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania came in at #22 for value in music education this year. Set in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,206, while out-of-state students pay about $16,330. Music Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Music Education graduates of Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $47,825 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earned the #23 position for value in music education this year. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,775 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,599. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $61,258. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Molloy College landed the #24 spot for music education value this year. Molloy College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rockville Centre. In-state tuition and fees average $39,790. Music Education graduates carry a median of $27,420 in student loans. Music Education graduates of Molloy College earn a median of $65,544 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Marywood University earned the #25 position for value in music education this year. Set in the city of Scranton, Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,420. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Marywood University generally make around $41,848. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 43 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
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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 · 43 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 43 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.
