2027 Best Value Other Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Other Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-other/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong other music education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for other music students.
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2027 Best Value Other Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other music, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Other Music Schools
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #1 spot for value among other music schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for other music graduates is $24,625. Early-career other music graduates make about $25,536. That is a strong return on a $24,625 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value other music schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Typical student debt for other music graduates is $25,972. Other Music graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,972 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value other music schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Other Music graduates carry a median of $20,769 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other music degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $28,328. That is a strong return on a $20,769 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other music, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,082 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. Other Music graduates carry a median of $24,518 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other music degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $47,863. That is a strong return on a $24,518 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
A rank of #5 makes Michigan State University one of the best values for other music. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other music graduates is $26,750. Early-career other music graduates make about $40,570. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Otterbein University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value other music schools. Located in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,548. Typical student debt for other music graduates is $25,282. Early-career other music graduates make about $45,871. That is a strong return on a $25,282 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Capital University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value other music schools. Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,234. Typical student debt for other music graduates is $27,000. Early-career other music graduates make about $33,143. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Tiffin University came in at #8 for value in other music this year. Tiffin University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Tiffin. In-state tuition and fees average $34,790. Other Music graduates carry a median of $30,977 in student loans. Early-career other music graduates make about $51,326. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Chicago came in at #9 for value in other music this year. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,088. Typical student debt for other music graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, other music degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $19,943. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Wheaton College Illinois placed #10 among the best values for other music. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,546. Students borrow a median of $24,556 to complete the other music program here. Soon after graduation, other music degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $26,540. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wheaton College Illinois admits about 87% of applicants.
Northwestern University placed #11 among the best values for other music. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Other Music graduates carry a median of $18,166 in student loans. Early-career other music graduates make about $78,551. That is a strong return on a $18,166 median debt. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Depaul University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value other music schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Typical student debt for other music graduates is $23,334. Soon after graduation, other music degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $22,885. That is a strong return on a $23,334 median debt. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
Butler University placed #13 among the best values for other music. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,560. Other Music graduates carry a median of $24,170 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other music degree recipients from Butler University generally make around $68,222. That is a strong return on a $24,170 median debt. Butler University admits about 85% of applicants.
Oberlin College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value other music schools. Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Oberlin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,366. Other Music graduates carry a median of $26,200 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other music degree recipients from Oberlin College generally make around $17,141. That is a strong return on a $26,200 median debt. Oberlin College admits about 34% of applicants.
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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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
