2027 Best Value General Music Schools in North Carolina

[General Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/general-music/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general music students.
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2027 Best Value General Music Schools in North Carolina
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
Our analysis ranked University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill the best value for a degree in general music in North Carolina. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. General Music graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. General Music graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $32,880 early in their careers. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Greensboro one of the best values for general music. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public school located in the city of Greensboro. In-state tuition and fees average $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. General Music graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $24,315. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general music will find it at Western Carolina University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,630 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,630. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $27,000. Early-career general music graduates make about $26,135. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general music, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,501, with out-of-state students paying around $24,849. General Music graduates carry a median of $22,108 in student loans. Early-career general music graduates make about $31,821. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earned it the #5 place for general music. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. General Music graduates carry a median of $25,858 in student loans. General Music graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $38,831 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,858 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
East Carolina University placed #6 among the best values for general music. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $26,000. General Music graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $26,222 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.