by our College Data Analytics Team
[Music Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/music-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value music education schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music education, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in music education, no school beat Adams State College this year. Set in the town of Alamosa, Adams State College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,824, with out-of-state students paying around $21,944. Students borrow a median of $25,523 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $54,569. That is a strong return on a $25,523 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in music education will find it at Metropolitan State College Of Denver, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,124 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $28,000. Early-career music education graduates make about $41,954. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Metropolitan State College Of Denver admits about 99% of applicants.
University Of Northern Colorado is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #3 spot this year. 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, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. Music Education graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. 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. University Of Northern Colorado admits about 86% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Regis University earned it the #4 place for music education. Located in the city of Denver, Regis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,140. Students borrow a median of $31,773 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Regis University generally make around $72,028. That is a strong return on a $31,773 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado Christian University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $28,846. Music Education graduates carry a median of $36,092 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $47,333. That is a strong return on a $36,092 median debt.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.