2026 Best Value Other Music Schools in the Far Western Region
[Other Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-other/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools to find the best return on investment for other music students.
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2026 Best Value Other Music Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other music, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Other Music Schools
For return on investment in other music, no school beat California State University Northridge this year. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Typical student debt for other music graduates is $15,933. Early-career other music graduates make about $28,106. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in other music will find it at Honolulu Community College, which ranked #2. Honolulu Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Honolulu. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,174, compared with $8,310 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,868 to complete the other music program here. Soon after graduation, other music degree recipients from Honolulu Community College generally make around $59,006. That is a strong return on a $10,868 median debt.
University Of California San Diego came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value other music schools. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Typical student debt for other music graduates is $18,938. Early-career other music graduates make about $21,592. That is a strong return on a $18,938 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
University Of California Irvine is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other music, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Other Music graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans. Early-career other music graduates make about $50,958. Set against $16,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value other music schools. Set in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, compared with $27,411 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the other music program here. Early-career other music graduates make about $50,039. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #6 position for value in other music this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for other music graduates is $16,481. Early-career other music graduates make about $65,681. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside landed the #7 spot for other music value this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,636, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Students borrow a median of $26,651 to complete the other music program here. Soon after graduation, other music degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $20,408. That is a strong return on a $26,651 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Hawaii came in at #8 for value in other music this year. Set in the town of Laie, Brigham Young University Hawaii is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630. Early-career other music graduates make about $41,461. The acceptance rate is 47%.
California State University Chico placed #9 among the best values for other music. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,472 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,072 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other music graduates is $24,125. Soon after graduation, other music degree recipients from California State University Chico generally make around $45,591. Set against $24,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Chico admits about 93% of applicants.
Western Oregon University came in at #10 for value in other music this year. Set in the town of Monmouth, Western Oregon University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,514 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,169. Students borrow a median of $24,166 to complete the other music program here. Other Music graduates of Western Oregon University earn a median of $39,436 early in their careers. Set against $24,166 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Oregon University admits about 98% of applicants.
Oregon State University came in at #11 for value in other music this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Typical student debt for other music graduates is $19,184. Soon after graduation, other music degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $29,630. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Oregon earned the #12 position for value in other music this year. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,320, with out-of-state students paying around $42,516. Other Music graduates carry a median of $20,583 in student loans. Other Music graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $44,628 early in their careers. Set against $20,583 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Concordia University Irvine ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value other music schools. Located in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,480. Typical student debt for other music graduates is $26,085. Early-career other music graduates make about $58,590. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Biola University earned the #14 position for value in other music this year. Set in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,984. Typical student debt for other music graduates is $26,417. Other Music graduates of Biola University earn a median of $19,978 early in their careers. Set against $26,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Southern California earned the #15 position for value in other music this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,976 to complete the other music program here. Other Music graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $23,244 early in their careers. Set against $20,976 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Musicians Institute landed the #16 spot for other music value this year. Set in the city of Hollywood, Musicians Institute is a small private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,414. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,778 ten years after entry. Musicians Institute admits about 78% of applicants.
Academy Of Art University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value other music schools. Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. In-state tuition and fees average $30,736. Students borrow a median of $30,949 to complete the other music program here. Other Music graduates of Academy Of Art University earn a median of $34,782 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California Institute Of The Arts landed the #18 spot for other music value this year. California Institute Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Valencia. Students from in state pay about $58,996 in tuition and fees. Other Music graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. Other Music graduates of California Institute Of The Arts earn a median of $22,475 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 32% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 23 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.
