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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music Performance (Income $30-$48k)

114 Ranked Colleges
2,269 Degrees Awarded
$29,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master's For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 7,957 people earned their degree in music performance, making the major the 103rd most popular in the United States.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,269 music performance graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 114 colleges that offered a degree in music performance. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality music performance programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the music performance program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music Performance (Income $30-$48k)

#1

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Yale University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 25 diplomas to qualified masters’s music performance students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Yale, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Music Performance Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Yale are $44,500, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music Performance at Yale University

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 114 schools in the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #2 spot on the list. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 14 masters’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Music Performance Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567.

Full Northwestern Music Performance Report

#3

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Out of the 114 schools in the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Harvard University landed the #3 spot on the list. Harvard is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard are $50,654.

Full Harvard University Music Performance Report

#4

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Johns Hopkins University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 66 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Johns Hopkins also took the #4 spot in our “Best Music Performance Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins University are $59,425, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Music Performance at Johns Hopkins

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 114 schools in the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school awarded 55 degrees to qualified masters’s music performance students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree music performance students whose families make $30-$48k list, U-M has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Music Performance Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548.

Read more about Music Performance at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#18 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. UW - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Music Performance Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523.

Read full report on Music Performance at University of Wisconsin - Madison

California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. California State University - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 14 masters’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music Performance at California State University - Los Angeles

#8

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#10 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 188 masters’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also made our “Best Music Performance Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full IU Bloomington Music Performance Report

#9

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

University of North Carolina School of the Arts landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and it awarded 21 masters’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNCSA are $26,064.

Read more about Music Performance at UNCSA

#9

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Brooklyn College is a public institution located in Brooklyn, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Brooklyn College are $20,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Brooklyn College Music Performance Report

#11

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas

University of North Texas landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Denton, Texas, and it awarded 72 masters’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Texas are $15,618, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Music Performance at UNT

#12

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

Boston University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 50 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree music performance students whose families make $30-$48k list, Boston U has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Music Performance Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Boston U are $57,666.

Full Boston University Music Performance Report

#13

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#22 in overall quality

Florida State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Tallahassee, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music performance degrees to 41 students in 2019-2020.

Florida State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Music Performance Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State University are $26,707.

Read full report on Music Performance at Florida State University

California State University - Fullerton landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 20 masters’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music Performance at Cal State Fullerton

#15

Queens College

Queens, New York

Queens College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Queens College is a public institution located in Queens, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Queens College are $21,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music Performance at QC

With a ranking of #16, University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music performance degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of South Florida - Main Campus are $21,126.

Read full report on Music Performance at USF Tampa

With a ranking of #17, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Northridge is a large public school situated in Northridge, California. It awarded 25 masters’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music Performance at California State University - Northridge

#19 in overall quality

Brigham Young University - Provo ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Brigham Young University - Provo is located in Provo, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s music performance degrees to qualified students.

BYU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Music Performance Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at BYU are $7,510, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music Performance at BYU

#19

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

University of North Florida landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UNF is a fairly large public school situated in Jacksonville, Florida. It awarded 6 masters’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNF are $21,930.

Full UNF Music Performance Report

With a ranking of #20, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music performance degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784.

Read full report on Music Performance at CSULB

#21

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. SDSU is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 masters’s music performance degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658.

Full SDSU Music Performance Report

#22

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
#9 in overall quality

Carnegie Mellon University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Carnegie Mellon is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Carnegie Mellon, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Music Performance Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Carnegie Mellon University are $47,326.

Read full report on Music Performance at Carnegie Mellon

#23

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina

Appalachian State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Appalachian State University is a large public school situated in Boone, North Carolina. It awarded 10 masters’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Appalachian State University are $21,439, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music Performance at Appalachian State University

#24

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana

Indiana University - South Bend landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in South Bend, Indiana, this small public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified masters’s music performance students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Indiana University - South Bend, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Music Performance Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - South Bend are $18,275.

Read more about Music Performance at Indiana University - South Bend

#25

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Greensboro landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, this fairly large public school awarded 26 degrees to qualified masters’s music performance students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNC Greensboro are $21,918.

Read more about Music Performance at UNC Greensboro

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.

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