2026 Best Value Jazz Studies Schools in Michigan
[Jazz Studies](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/jazz-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong jazz studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for jazz studies students.
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2026 Best Value Jazz Studies Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in jazz studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Jazz Studies Schools
Leading the list is University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 best value for jazz studies in Michigan. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,397 to complete the jazz studies program here. Early-career jazz studies graduates make about $29,641. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in jazz studies will find it at Western Michigan University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the jazz studies program here. Jazz Studies graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $27,361 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in jazz studies will find it at Michigan State University, which ranked #3. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Jazz Studies graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Jazz Studies graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $40,570 early in their careers. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
