2027 Best Value Music Education Schools in Minnesota
[Music Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/music-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong music education education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value music education schools.
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2027 Best Value Music Education Schools in Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Music Education Schools
Bemidji State University tops our 2027 list of the best value music education schools in Minnesota. Located in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,237 in tuition and fees. Music Education graduates carry a median of $23,389 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Bemidji State University generally make around $45,668. Set against $23,389 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bemidji State University admits about 56% of applicants.
Saint Cloud State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #2 spot this year. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. In-state tuition and fees average $10,245. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $30,795. Music Education graduates of Saint Cloud State University earn a median of $51,625 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Students looking for strong value in music education will find it at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $21,577. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $43,170. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Southwest Minnesota State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #4 spot this year. Southwest Minnesota State University is a large public school located in the town of Marshall. Students from in state pay about $10,361 in tuition and fees. Music Education graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Music Education graduates of Southwest Minnesota State University earn a median of $48,109 early in their careers. Set against $29,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Winona State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,576, with out-of-state students paying around $17,308. Music Education graduates carry a median of $26,762 in student loans. Music Education graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $44,002 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,762 median debt. Winona State University admits about 76% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Moorhead ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,428. Music Education graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $44,850. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Minnesota State University Moorhead admits about 59% of applicants.
Concordia University Saint Paul ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $25,600 in tuition and fees. Music Education graduates carry a median of $29,026 in student loans. Music Education graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of $48,056 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Concordia University Saint Paul admits about 79% of applicants.
Martin Luther College earned the #8 position for value in music education this year. Located in the town of New Ulm, Martin Luther College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,120. Music Education graduates carry a median of $20,224 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Martin Luther College generally make around $31,016. That is a strong return on a $20,224 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #9 for value in music education this year. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $28,000. Early-career music education graduates make about $41,952. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. University Of Minnesota Duluth admits about 89% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #10 for value in music education this year. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Students borrow a median of $26,082 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $53,463 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Gustavus Adolphus College earned the #11 position for value in music education this year. Set in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $56,076. Students borrow a median of $26,197 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $44,396. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
St Olaf College placed #12 among the best values for music education. Located in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,760. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of St Olaf College earn a median of $47,807 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Concordia College At Moorhead landed the #13 spot for music education value this year. Concordia College At Moorhead is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moorhead. Students from in state pay about $31,170 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Concordia College At Moorhead earn a median of $48,164 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Northwestern College Minnesota ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $37,920. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $27,000. Early-career music education graduates make about $40,191. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
The College Of Saint Scholastica earned the #15 position for value in music education this year. The College Of Saint Scholastica is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Duluth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,778. Music Education graduates carry a median of $26,755 in student loans. Music Education graduates of The College Of Saint Scholastica earn a median of $60,474 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Bethel University Minnesota earned the #16 position for value in music education this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,226. Music Education graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Music Education graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of $61,465 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
