2026 Best Value Conducting Schools in the Southeast Region
[Conducting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/conducting/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for conducting students.
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2026 Best Value Conducting Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in conducting, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Conducting Schools
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro tops our 2026 list of the best value conducting schools in the Southeast Region. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $26,000. Early-career conducting graduates make about $24,315. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of North Florida came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value conducting schools. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,964, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. Students borrow a median of $20,188 to complete the conducting program here. Conducting graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $24,405 early in their careers. Set against $20,188 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in conducting will find it at Winthrop University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,678, with out-of-state students paying around $28,676. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the conducting program here. Conducting graduates of Winthrop University earn a median of $39,378 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lee University earned it the #4 place for conducting. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,790. Conducting graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career conducting graduates make about $38,249. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of South Carolina Columbia one of the best values for conducting. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $12,688, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $27,000. Conducting graduates of University Of South Carolina Columbia earn a median of $38,397 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Shenandoah University came in at #6 for value in conducting this year. Set in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $36,950 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the conducting program here. Early-career conducting graduates make about $62,948. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami earned the #7 position for value in conducting this year. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,616. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $13,998. Conducting graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $23,991 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,998 median debt. University Of Miami admits about 19% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
