by our College Data Analytics Team
[Brass Instruments](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/brass-instruments/) 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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for brass instruments students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in brass instruments, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in brass instruments, no school beat Vanderbilt University this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Typical student debt for brass instruments graduates is $21,500. Early-career brass instruments graduates make about $77,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
University Of Kentucky is a great value for students pursuing a degree in brass instruments, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, brass instruments degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $30,818. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Tennessee one of the best values for brass instruments. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $23,453 in student loans. Brass Instruments graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $49,826 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Liberty University earned it the #4 place for brass instruments. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Brass Instruments graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $33,956 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.