2026 Best Value Music Therapy Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music therapy degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Music Therapy Schools
California State University Northridge tops our 2026 list of the best value music therapy schools in the Far Western Region. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Music Therapy graduates carry a median of $16,202 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music therapy degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $55,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Students looking for strong value in music therapy will find it at Mount St Marys College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Mount St Marys College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $49,564. Music Therapy graduates carry a median of $27,555 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music therapy degree recipients from Mount St Marys College generally make around $58,110. Set against $27,555 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of The Pacific earned it the #3 place for music therapy. Located in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,080. Students borrow a median of $23,514 to complete the music therapy program here. Early-career music therapy graduates make about $88,755. Set against $23,514 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Pacific University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music therapy, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Forest Grove, Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,374. Typical student debt for music therapy graduates is $26,170. Early-career music therapy graduates make about $73,463. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
[Music Therapy](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/music-therapy/) 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.
