2026 Best Value Music Education Schools in Florida

[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.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value music education schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Music Education Schools in Florida
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 University Of Florida, our #1 best value for music education in Florida. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $15,275. Music Education graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $51,476 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,275 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in music education will find it at Florida Atlantic University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $27,516. Early-career music education graduates make about $53,524. That is a strong return on a $27,516 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value music education schools. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. In-state tuition and fees average $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 $51,543. That is a strong return on a $20,375 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida International University earned it the #4 place for music education. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Students borrow a median of $18,802 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $44,809 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,802 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in music education will find it at The University Of West Florida, which ranked #5. Located in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,776 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,658 for out-of-state students. Music Education graduates carry a median of $19,677 in student loans. Music Education graduates of The University Of West Florida earn a median of $47,141 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Gulf Coast University earned the #6 position for value in music education this year. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, while out-of-state students pay about $25,162. Music Education graduates carry a median of $20,015 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $50,726. That is a strong return on a $20,015 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Florida earned the #7 position for value in music education this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,964, with out-of-state students paying around $19,407. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $18,523. Early-career music education graduates make about $47,219. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Florida admits about 53% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida landed the #8 spot for music education value this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $21,088. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $38,466. That is a strong return on a $21,088 median debt. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
Florida State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value music education schools. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $54,079. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value music education schools. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,785, compared with $17,725 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,824 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University generally make around $38,719. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Florida Southern College landed the #11 spot for music education value this year. Set in the city of Lakeland, Florida Southern College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $44,040. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Florida Southern College earn a median of $46,418 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Southeastern University came in at #12 for value in music education this year. Located in the city of Lakeland, Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $32,950. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Southeastern University generally make around $47,966. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 53%.
University Of Miami placed #13 among the best values for music education. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. In-state tuition and fees average $62,616. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $57,234. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Miami admits about 19% of applicants.
More Music Education Rankings
View All Music Education Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.