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2022 Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s

548 Ranked Colleges
7,886 Degrees Awarded
$14,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor's

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

General Music is the 68th most popular major in the country with 11,573 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 7,886 general music graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking, we looked at 548 colleges that offer a degree in general music. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general music programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general music program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The general music school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Music

Top 20% in overall quality

Out of the 548 schools in the Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #1 spot on the list. Brigham Young University - Provo is located in Provo, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s general music degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on this list, BYU is in the top on our “Best General Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Brigham Young University - Provo is $13,322 for bachelor’s degree general music students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Brigham Young University - Provo General Music Report

Top 20% in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend West Texas A&M University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Canyon, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 51 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general music students in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, West Texas A&M University also did well on our “Best General Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $12,761 for bachelor’s degree general music students per year to attend West Texas A&M University.

Read full report on General Music at West Texas A&M University

Top 10% in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s. This fairly large school is located in Fargo, North Dakota, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s general music degrees in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University also claimed a top spot on our “Best General Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best General Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University is $16,584 for bachelor’s degree general music students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Music at North Dakota State University - Main Campus

Top 15% in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Whitewater, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general music degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

UW - Whitewater also claimed a top spot on our “Best General Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. It costs about $15,249 for bachelor’s degree general music students per year to attend UW - Whitewater.

Read more about General Music at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

#4

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri
Top 10% in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Truman State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Truman State University is a small school located in Kirksville, Missouri that handed out 18 bachelors’s general music degrees in 2019-2020.

Truman State excels when it comes to general music quality. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Truman State University is $12,462 for bachelor’s degree general music students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read full report on General Music at Truman State

Top 10% in overall quality

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #6. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a large school located in Edinburg, Texas that handed out 32 bachelors’s general music degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UT Rio Grande Valley is also in the top of our “Best General Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best General Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UT Rio Grande Valley is $4,514 for bachelor’s degree general music students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UT Rio Grande Valley General Music Report

#7

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin
Top 20% in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Platteville came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Platteville, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general music degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, UW - Platteville is in the top on our “Best General Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. It costs about $15,718 for bachelor’s degree general music students per year to attend UW - Platteville.

Read full report on General Music at UW - Platteville

#8

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
Top 20% in overall quality

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #8. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a public institution located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SRU also claimed a top spot on our “Best General Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is $19,926 for bachelor’s degree general music students.

Full SRU General Music Report

Top 20% in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s list. La Crosse, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general music degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - La Crosse is also in the top of our “Best General Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. It costs about $14,580 for Bachelor’s Degree General Music students per year to attend UW - La Crosse.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Music at UW - La Crosse

#10

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Top 15% in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 44 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general music students in 2019-2020.

UW - Eau Claire also claimed a top spot on our “Best General Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best General Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Eau Claire is $16,020 for bachelor’s degree general music students.

Full University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire General Music Report

#11

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota

South Dakota State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #11. South Dakota State University is a fairly large public school situated in Brookings, South Dakota. It awarded 4 bachelors’s general music degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State is $19,252 for Bachelor’s Degree General Music students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Music at South Dakota State

#12

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin
Top 25% in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s list. UW - Green Bay is a public institution located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $14,395 for Bachelor’s Degree General Music students.

Read more about General Music at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

#13

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, North Carolina

Western Carolina University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Cullowhee, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general music degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for WCU is $13,722 for Bachelor’s Degree General Music students.

Read more about General Music at Western Carolina University

#14

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

With a ranking of #14, Bemidji State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Bemidji State University is located in Bemidji, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s general music degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Bemidji State University is $15,868 for bachelor’s degree general music students.

Read full report on General Music at Bemidji State University

#15

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota

University of South Dakota ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s list. This medium-sized school is located in Vermillion, South Dakota, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s general music degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for USD is $18,555 for Bachelor’s Degree General Music students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about General Music at University of South Dakota

#16

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. EIU is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s general music degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $14,607 for Bachelor’s Degree General Music students per year to attend Eastern Illinois University.

Read full report on General Music at Eastern Illinois University

With a ranking of #17, Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s list. This medium-sized school is located in Marshall, Minnesota, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s general music degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,397 for Bachelor’s Degree General Music students per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.

Full Southwest Minnesota State University General Music Report

Top 25% in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Kearney landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. University of Nebraska at Kearney is a medium-sized public school situated in Kearney, Nebraska. It awarded 8 bachelors’s general music degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Kearney is $16,017 for bachelor’s degree general music students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UNK General Music Report

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. This fairly large school is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s general music degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,463 for Bachelor’s Degree General Music students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh.

Full University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh General Music Report

#20

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
Top 10% in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, University of Houston did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general music degrees to 39 students in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UH also did well on our “Best General Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best General Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Houston is $12,838 for bachelor’s degree general music students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full UH General Music Report

#21

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #21. University of North Dakota is a fairly large school located in Grand Forks, North Dakota that handed out 6 bachelors’s general music degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of North Dakota is $15,738 for bachelor’s degree general music students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of North Dakota General Music Report

#22

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s list. UW - River Falls is a public institution located in River Falls, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UW - River Falls is $13,748 for Bachelor’s Degree General Music students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UW - River Falls General Music Report

University of Central Arkansas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Conway, Arkansas, this fairly large public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general music students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UCA is $15,376 for bachelor’s degree general music students.

Full UCA General Music Report

#24

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general music students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $14,465 for bachelor’s degree general music students.

Full University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point General Music Report

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #25. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 bachelors’s general music degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $14,423 for Bachelor’s Degree General Music students per year to attend SIUE.

Full SIUE General Music Report

Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#28

Henderson State University

Arkadelphia, Arkansas
#29

Northern State University

Aberdeen, South Dakota
#30

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas
#31

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, Texas
#32

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#33

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#34

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas
#36

University of South Alabama

Mobile, Alabama
#37

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#38

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#39

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#41

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida
#44

Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City, North Carolina
#45

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, Tennessee
#47

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts
#48

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas
#49

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value General Music Schools for a Bachelor’s

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 Illinois State University Normal, IL
52 Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus Portales, NM
53 Nicholls State University Thibodaux, LA
54 Lee University Cleveland, TN
55 Minnesota State University - Moorhead Moorhead, MN
56 Texas A&M International University Laredo, TX
57 Texas Woman’s University Denton, TX
58 SUNY Fredonia Fredonia, NY
59 Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Mansfield, PA
60 West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PA
61 Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown, PA
62 Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI
63 Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA
64 Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MO
65 University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
Rank College Location
66 University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO
67 University of Wisconsin - Parkside Kenosha, WI
68 Texas A&M University - Commerce Commerce, TX
69 Fort Hays State University Hays, KS
70 SUNY Oneonta Oneonta, NY
71 Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MO
71 California State University - Northridge Northridge, CA
73 Murray State University Murray, KY
74 Mississippi University for Women Columbus, MS
75 University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras San Juan, PR
76 Iowa State University Ames, IA
77 Harding University Searcy, AR
77 Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Edinboro, PA
79 Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA
80 University of Memphis Memphis, TN
81 Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO
82 Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN
83 Bridgewater State University Bridgewater, MA

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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