Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Music Performance

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

16 Ranked Colleges
211 Degrees Awarded
$16,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Music Performance is the 103rd most popular major in the country with 7,957 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across Illinois, there were 274 music performance graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 211 music performance graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 16 colleges that offered a degree in music performance. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great music performance programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the music performance program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Music Performance Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 16 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music Performance (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 20 bachelors’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $1,866 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Music Performance students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Northwestern Music Performance Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music performance degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $5,477 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UIUC.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Music Performance Report

#3

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northern Illinois University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 35 bachelors’s music performance degrees to qualified students.

NIU also took the #11 spot in our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NIU is $15,281 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Music Performance at Northern Illinois University

#4

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Illinois University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 38 bachelors’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

WIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend WIU is $13,942 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Music Performance at Western Illinois University

#5

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Illinois State University is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 25 bachelors’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also took the #4 spot in our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State University is $14,470 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Performance at Illinois State University

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Illinois at Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s music performance degrees to qualified students.

UIC also took the #15 spot in our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $10,648 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Performance at University of Illinois at Chicago

#7

Wheaton College Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Wheaton College Illinois landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Wheaton, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s music performance degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

Wheaton College Illinois also made our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend Wheaton College Illinois is $18,440 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Wheaton College Illinois Music Performance Report

#8

Millikin University

Decatur, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

Millikin University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Millikin is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decatur, Illinois. It awarded 20 bachelors’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

Millikin also made our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $17,656 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Music Performance students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Millikin University.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Music Performance at Millikin University

#9

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

North Park University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. North Park is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

North Park did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend North Park is $17,808 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Music Performance students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full North Park University Music Performance Report

#10

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

Elmhurst University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Elmhurst, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s music performance degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

Elmhurst also took the #13 spot in our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Elmhurst University is $16,903 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Performance at Elmhurst University

#11

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Bradley University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Bradley University is located in Peoria, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s music performance degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students whose families make $0-$30k list, Bradley has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $17,205 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bradley University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Performance at Bradley

#12

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Olivet Nazarene University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Olivet Nazarene is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Olivet Nazarene did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $15,806 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Music Performance students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Olivet Nazarene University.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Olivet Nazarene Music Performance Report

#13

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

Augustana College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Rock Island, Illinois, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

Augustana also made our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Augustana College is $20,355 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Music Performance at Augustana College

#14

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

Illinois Wesleyan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. This small school is located in Bloomington, Illinois, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois Wesleyan also made our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois Wesleyan is $18,570 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Music Performance at Illinois Wesleyan University

#15

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

Columbia College Chicago ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s music performance degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students whose families make $0-$30k list, Columbia has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Columbia is $27,120 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Columbia College Chicago Music Performance Report

#16

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

DePaul University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s music performance degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students whose families make $0-$30k list, DePaul has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePaul is $26,173 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Performance at DePaul University

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Featured Performing Arts Schools

Find Schools Near You