2027 Best Value Conducting Master’s Degree Schools
[Conducting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/conducting/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 46 schools to find the best return on investment for conducting students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Conducting Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the conducting degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Conducting Schools
For return on investment in conducting, no school beat University Of Michigan Ann Arbor this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $19,397. Early-career conducting graduates make about $16,971. Set against $19,397 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny Queens College one of the best values for conducting. Cuny Queens College is a large public school located in the city of Queens. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. Students borrow a median of $12,157 to complete the conducting program here. Conducting graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $27,902 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,157 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Rice University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value conducting schools. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $11,904. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value conducting schools. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public school located in the city of Greensboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,661, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the conducting program here. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $29,507. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value conducting schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,371, compared with $32,271 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $23,089. Early-career conducting graduates make about $32,932. That is a strong return on a $23,089 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Wichita State University landed the #6 spot for conducting value this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Students borrow a median of $24,262 to complete the conducting program here. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $49,278. That is a strong return on a $24,262 median debt. Wichita State University admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #7 spot for conducting value this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the conducting program here. Early-career conducting graduates make about $65,681. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #8 for value in conducting this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,688. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $10,460. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $22,625. That is a strong return on a $10,460 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Iowa earned the #9 position for value in conducting this year. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,936, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Conducting graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $32,175. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #10 position for value in conducting this year. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Students borrow a median of $25,062 to complete the conducting program here. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $49,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Western Michigan University landed the #11 spot for conducting value this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Conducting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career conducting graduates make about $29,946. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Sam Houston State University landed the #12 spot for conducting value this year. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,068. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the conducting program here. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $59,926. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Johns Hopkins University placed #13 among the best values for conducting. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the conducting program here. Early-career conducting graduates make about $84,850. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University landed the #14 spot for conducting value this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $26,750. Conducting graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $42,484 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #15 position for value in conducting this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Conducting graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $27,179. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 27%.
University Of Central Oklahoma came in at #16 for value in conducting this year. University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public school located in the suburb of Edmond. In-state tuition and fees average $8,818, while out-of-state students pay about $19,704. Conducting graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. Early-career conducting graduates make about $31,933. Set against $23,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value conducting schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $27,000. Conducting graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $32,134 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent placed #18 among the best values for conducting. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Conducting graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $24,340. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Oregon ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value conducting schools. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,320, with out-of-state students paying around $42,516. Students borrow a median of $20,583 to complete the conducting program here. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from University Of Oregon generally make around $20,707. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #20 among the best values for conducting. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $27,000. Conducting graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $30,429 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
University Of South Carolina Columbia earned the #21 position for value in conducting this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,688 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the conducting program here. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $53,623. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Yale University landed the #22 spot for conducting value this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $14,357. Conducting graduates of Yale University earn a median of $21,250 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University earned the #23 position for value in conducting this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. Conducting graduates carry a median of $26,957 in student loans. Early-career conducting graduates make about $63,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma City University landed the #24 spot for conducting value this year. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,754. Students borrow a median of $26,456 to complete the conducting program here. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from Oklahoma City University generally make around $25,621. That is a strong return on a $26,456 median debt. Oklahoma City University admits about 77% of applicants.
Rider University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value conducting schools. Set in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,120. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the conducting program here. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from Rider University generally make around $33,158. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Rest of the Top 46 Best Value Conducting Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s conducting value ranking:
Other Conducting Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Conducting rankings across degree levels:
View All Conducting Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 46 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 46 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.
