2027 Best Value Music Education Schools in Tennessee
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music education students.
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2027 Best Value Music Education Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Music Education Schools
Vanderbilt University earned the #1 spot for value among music education schools in Tennessee. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $13,975. Music Education graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee Martin is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,560, compared with $16,600 for out-of-state students. Music Education graduates carry a median of $23,770 in student loans. Music Education graduates of The University Of Tennessee Martin earn a median of $40,400 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,770 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
A rank of #3 makes Bethel University Tennessee one of the best values for music education. Set in the town of McKenzie, Bethel University Tennessee is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,712. Students borrow a median of $28,583 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Bethel University Tennessee earn a median of $62,331 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tennessee Wesleyan College earned it the #4 place for music education. Located in the town of Athens, Tennessee Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $30,814 in tuition and fees. Music Education graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Music Education graduates of Tennessee Wesleyan College earn a median of $58,859 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Lee University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $23,790 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $29,625. Music Education graduates of Lee University earn a median of $48,056 early in their careers. Set against $29,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lee University admits about 70% of applicants.
Maryville College landed the #6 spot for music education value this year. Located in the suburb of Maryville, Maryville College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $39,284. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $26,428. Music Education graduates of Maryville College earn a median of $42,971 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,428 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Carson Newman College came in at #7 for value in music education this year. Located in the suburb of Jefferson City, Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,700. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $25,075. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Carson Newman College generally make around $48,797. Set against $25,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Belmont University earned the #8 position for value in music education this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,540 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,447 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $49,699. Set against $23,447 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Belmont University admits about 95% of applicants.
More Music Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
