2027 Best Value General Music Schools in the New England Region
[General Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/general-music/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general music education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general music schools.
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2027 Best Value General Music Schools in the New England Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general music degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Music Schools
Leading the list is University Of Southern Maine, our #1 best value for general music in the New England Region. University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Portland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,090, with out-of-state students paying around $29,940. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $23,593. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of Southern Maine generally make around $47,003. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
A rank of #2 makes Harvard University one of the best values for general music. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the general music program here. General Music graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general music will find it at Westfield State University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,179, while out-of-state students pay about $18,259. Students borrow a median of $25,910 to complete the general music program here. Early-career general music graduates make about $46,645. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Boston earned it the #4 place for general music. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $15,898 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. General Music graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $52,885. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Western Connecticut State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general music, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Danbury, Western Connecticut State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $13,401 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,901 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $26,025. Early-career general music graduates make about $21,659. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Vermont placed #6 among the best values for general music. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $19,058 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $45,502. Students borrow a median of $22,607 to complete the general music program here. Early-career general music graduates make about $44,588. That is a strong return on a $22,607 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Keene State College earned the #7 position for value in general music this year. Located in the town of Keene, Keene State College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,784, while out-of-state students pay about $26,840. General Music graduates carry a median of $26,185 in student loans. Early-career general music graduates make about $41,049. That is a strong return on a $26,185 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rhode Island came in at #8 for value in general music this year. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,942, with out-of-state students paying around $37,146. General Music graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. General Music graduates of University Of Rhode Island earn a median of $52,821 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Rhode Island admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #9 for value in general music this year. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general music program here. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $30,429. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
Yale University placed #10 among the best values for general music. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the general music program here. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $21,250. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general music schools. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Durham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,202, with out-of-state students paying around $39,852. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of New Hampshire Main Campus generally make around $30,716. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Boston University landed the #12 spot for general music value this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. General Music graduates carry a median of $26,957 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $30,982. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Brown University came in at #13 for value in general music this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,312. Students borrow a median of $13,025 to complete the general music program here. Early-career general music graduates make about $62,820. That is a strong return on a $13,025 median debt. Brown University admits about 5% of applicants.
University Of Connecticut earned the #14 position for value in general music this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,044, while out-of-state students pay about $43,712. General Music graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. General Music graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $31,336 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
Dartmouth College came in at #15 for value in general music this year. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Students from in state pay about $68,019 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $16,989. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Dartmouth College generally make around $81,992. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Dartmouth College admits about 5% of applicants.
Clark University landed the #16 spot for general music value this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $58,467 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,153 to complete the general music program here. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Clark University generally make around $43,257. Set against $26,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Northeastern University earned the #17 position for value in general music this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. General Music graduates carry a median of $26,568 in student loans. General Music graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $21,978 early in their careers. Set against $26,568 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
University Of Hartford placed #18 among the best values for general music. Set in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $49,075. General Music graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General Music graduates of University Of Hartford earn a median of $26,775 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Hartford admits about 96% of applicants.
Bennington College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value general music schools. Located in the town of Bennington, Bennington College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $66,262. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $26,815. General Music graduates of Bennington College earn a median of $29,031 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bennington College admits about 44% of applicants.
University Of New Haven earned the #20 position for value in general music this year. Set in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $47,332. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $27,000. Early-career general music graduates make about $22,171. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
