by our College Data Analytics Team
[Acoustics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/acoustics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for acoustics students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the acoustics degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in acoustics, no school beat Pennsylvania State University World Campus this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,356. Acoustics graduates carry a median of $26,062 in student loans. Early-career acoustics graduates make about $103,672. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned it the #2 place for acoustics. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Acoustics graduates carry a median of $23,830 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acoustics degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $73,567. Set against $23,830 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at New York University earned it the #3 place for acoustics. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Acoustics graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, acoustics degree recipients from New York University generally make around $34,624. That is a strong return on a $22,750 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.