by our College Data Analytics Team
[Brass Instruments](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/brass-instruments/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for brass instruments students.
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Where you study brass instruments affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Brass Instruments Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Brass Instruments Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the brass instruments degrees they offer, see the list below.
Rice University earned the #1 spot for value among brass instruments schools in the United States. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans. Early-career brass instruments graduates make about $30,454. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in brass instruments will find it at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career brass instruments graduates make about $77,997. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #3 place for brass instruments. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Soon after graduation, brass instruments degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $65,681. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Bloomington earned it the #4 place for brass instruments. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $20,769 in student loans. Brass Instruments graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $28,328 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music is a great value for students pursuing a degree in brass instruments, landing the #5 spot this year. Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music is a small public school located in the city of San Juan. In-state tuition and fees average $3,370, while out-of-state students pay about $3,850. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans. Early-career brass instruments graduates make about $5,005. Set against $12,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee landed the #6 spot for brass instruments value this year. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Students borrow a median of $23,453 to complete the brass instruments program here. Soon after graduation, brass instruments degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $49,826. That is a strong return on a $23,453 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Kentucky placed #7 among the best values for brass instruments. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Brass Instruments graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $30,818 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.
Liberty University came in at #8 for value in brass instruments this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Typical student debt for brass instruments graduates is $27,000. Brass Instruments graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $33,956 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Roosevelt University landed the #9 spot for brass instruments value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,315. Students borrow a median of $27,750 to complete the brass instruments program here. Early-career brass instruments graduates make about $29,974. That is a strong return on a $27,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Hartford earned the #10 position for value in brass instruments this year. Set in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,075. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, brass instruments degree recipients from University Of Hartford generally make around $26,775. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Southern California landed the #11 spot for brass instruments value this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $20,976 in student loans. Brass Instruments graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $23,244 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
Ithaca College placed #12 among the best values for brass instruments. Located in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $52,616 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for brass instruments graduates is $27,000. Brass Instruments graduates of Ithaca College earn a median of $38,328 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Longy School Of Music Of Bard College landed the #13 spot for brass instruments value this year. Longy School Of Music Of Bard College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,275. Early-career brass instruments graduates make about $30,660.
San Francisco Conservatory Of Music came in at #14 for value in brass instruments this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $56,150 in tuition and fees. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Brass Instruments graduates of San Francisco Conservatory Of Music earn a median of $32,882 early in their careers. San Francisco Conservatory Of Music admits about 55% of applicants.
The Juilliard School landed the #15 spot for brass instruments value this year. The Juilliard School is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $57,950 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the brass instruments program here. Soon after graduation, brass instruments degree recipients from The Juilliard School generally make around $14,101. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Los Angeles Music Academy placed #16 among the best values for brass instruments. Los Angeles Music Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,190. Students borrow a median of $37,296 to complete the brass instruments program here. Brass Instruments graduates of Los Angeles Music Academy earn a median of $24,059 early in their careers. Set against $37,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Los Angeles Music Academy admits about 88% of applicants.
The New England Conservatory Of Music placed #17 among the best values for brass instruments. Set in the city of Boston, The New England Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,750. Students borrow a median of $26,991 to complete the brass instruments program here. Early-career brass instruments graduates make about $24,499. Set against $26,991 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
Manhattan School Of Music landed the #18 spot for brass instruments value this year. Located in the city of New York, Manhattan School Of Music is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,050. Typical student debt for brass instruments graduates is $27,000. Early-career brass instruments graduates make about $18,441. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
Brass Instruments is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.