by our College Data Analytics Team
[Music Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/music-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong music education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for music education students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Adams State College, our #1 best value for music education in Colorado. Located in the town of Alamosa, Adams State College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,824, compared with $21,944 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $25,523. Early-career music education graduates make about $54,569. That is a strong return on a $25,523 median debt.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value music education schools. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,124, compared with $30,684 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $28,000. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Metropolitan State College Of Denver generally make around $41,954. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Colorado came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value music education schools. University Of Northern Colorado is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,901, while out-of-state students pay about $26,979. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $23,125. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of Northern Colorado generally make around $49,275. Set against $23,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Colorado Boulder one of the best values for music education. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $20,373. Music Education graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $56,935 early in their careers. Set against $20,373 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.