2027 Best Value Music Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Music Management](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/arts-media-management/music-management/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong music management education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value music management schools.
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2027 Best Value Music Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Music Management Schools
For return on investment in music management, no school beat Ferris State University this year. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Students borrow a median of $26,040 to complete the music management program here. Soon after graduation, music management degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $27,565. Set against $26,040 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Ohio University Main Campus one of the best values for music management. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music management graduates is $24,546. Soon after graduation, music management degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. That is a strong return on a $24,546 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Bradley University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value music management schools. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,160. Students borrow a median of $26,380 to complete the music management program here. Early-career music management graduates make about $54,513. Set against $26,380 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music management, landing the #4 spot this year. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,088. Music Management graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music management degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $23,844. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in music management will find it at Baldwin Wallace College, which ranked #5. Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Berea. In-state tuition and fees average $39,832. Music Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Music Management graduates of Baldwin Wallace College earn a median of $29,088 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Baldwin Wallace College admits about 76% of applicants.
Depaul University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value music management schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Typical student debt for music management graduates is $25,340. Music Management graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $55,390 early in their careers. Set against $25,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Butler University placed #7 among the best values for music management. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,560. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the music management program here. Music Management graduates of Butler University earn a median of $34,911 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Butler University admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.