2026 Best Value Music Therapy Schools in Pennsylvania
[Music Therapy](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/music-therapy/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong music therapy education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music therapy students.
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2026 Best Value Music Therapy Schools in Pennsylvania
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
Leading the list is Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 best value for music therapy in Pennsylvania. Set in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,568, while out-of-state students pay about $14,676. Typical student debt for music therapy graduates is $27,000. Early-career music therapy graduates make about $51,364. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Marywood University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value music therapy schools. Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. In-state tuition and fees average $41,420. Typical student debt for music therapy graduates is $26,996. Soon after graduation, music therapy degree recipients from Marywood University generally make around $36,791. Set against $26,996 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Seton Hill University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value music therapy schools. Set in the suburb of Greensburg, Seton Hill University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,944. Typical student debt for music therapy graduates is $26,556. Soon after graduation, music therapy degree recipients from Seton Hill University generally make around $42,829. Set against $26,556 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Seton Hill University admits about 80% of applicants.
Elizabethtown College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music therapy, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,950. Typical student debt for music therapy graduates is $26,599. Early-career music therapy graduates make about $66,391. That is a strong return on a $26,599 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in music therapy will find it at Mercyhurst College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Erie, Mercyhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,770 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music therapy graduates is $25,705. Music Therapy graduates of Mercyhurst College earn a median of $46,009 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mercyhurst College admits about 81% of applicants.
Temple University placed #6 among the best values for music therapy. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Music Therapy graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music therapy degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $59,914. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Duquesne University earned the #7 position for value in music therapy this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,986. Typical student debt for music therapy graduates is $27,000. Music Therapy graduates of Duquesne University earn a median of $71,021 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Duquesne University admits about 84% of applicants.
Drexel University landed the #8 spot for music therapy value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete the music therapy program here. Early-career music therapy graduates make about $61,237. That is a strong return on a $28,838 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 6 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.
