2027 Best Value Music Education Schools in Missouri
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music education students.
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2027 Best Value Music Education Schools in Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Music Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Truman State University the best value for a degree in music education in Missouri. Truman State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kirksville. Students from in state pay about $9,838 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,566 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $23,168. Music Education graduates of Truman State University earn a median of $39,321 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,168 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Students looking for strong value in music education will find it at St Charles Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Cottleville, St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,810 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Music Education graduates carry a median of $12,606 in student loans. Music Education graduates of St Charles Community College earn a median of $47,228 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in music education will find it at College Of The Ozarks, which ranked #3. College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Point Lookout. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,360. Music Education graduates of College Of The Ozarks earn a median of $37,042 early in their careers. College Of The Ozarks admits about 12% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in music education will find it at University Of Central Missouri, which ranked #4. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,050, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. Music Education graduates carry a median of $25,741 in student loans. Music Education graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $37,460 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,741 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Southeast Missouri State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,903 in tuition and fees. Music Education graduates carry a median of $21,748 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $34,206. That is a strong return on a $21,748 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Northwest Missouri State University placed #6 among the best values for music education. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,611, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Music Education graduates carry a median of $26,221 in student loans. Music Education graduates of Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of $38,832 early in their careers. Set against $26,221 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #7 position for value in music education this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $30,294. Early-career music education graduates make about $39,237. That is a strong return on a $30,294 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Evangel University earned the #8 position for value in music education this year. Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,548. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $30,175. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Evangel University generally make around $34,872. Set against $30,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Southwest Baptist University came in at #9 for value in music education this year. Located in the town of Bolivar, Southwest Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $30,566 in tuition and fees. Music Education graduates carry a median of $25,762 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Southwest Baptist University generally make around $35,507. Set against $25,762 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value music education schools. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,620. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $24,633. Music Education graduates of Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences earn a median of $47,538 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences admits about 57% 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 · 10 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.
