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2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid

17 Ranked Colleges
274 Degrees Awarded
$22,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid

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 in Illinois For Those Getting Aid” 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.

Across Illinois, there were 274 music performance graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 17 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in music performance. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality music performance programs that also have a lower cost than 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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 in Illinois For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois music performance students with aid.

Top 17 Best Value Colleges for Music Performance in Illinois (With Aid)

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music performance degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Music Performance Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $15,880 for illinois music performance students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UIUC Music Performance Report

#2

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Western Illinois University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 38 ’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois music performance students with aid list, WIU has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Music Performance Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $16,210 for Illinois Music Performance students with aid per year to attend WIU.

Read full report on Music Performance at WIU

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Chicago. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 2 ’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Music Performance Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for UIC is $13,312 for Illinois Music Performance students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UIC Music Performance Report

#4

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Illinois University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 40 ’s music performance degrees to qualified students.

NIU also made our “Best Music Performance Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Northern Illinois University is $18,259 for illinois music performance students with aid.

Full NIU Music Performance Report

#5

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

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 in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 25 ’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Music Performance Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $20,895 for Illinois Music Performance students with aid per year to attend Illinois State University.

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

#6

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois

North Park University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. North Park University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Park, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Music Performance Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Park University is $19,170 for Illinois Music Performance students with aid.

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.

Full North Park Music Performance Report

#7

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

With a ranking of #7, Northwestern University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 34 ’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Music Performance Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $24,664 for Illinois Music Performance students with aid per year to attend Northwestern.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Northwestern University Music Performance Report

#8

Millikin University

Decatur, Illinois

Millikin University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Millikin University is a small school located in Decatur, Illinois that handed out 21 ’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

Millikin also made our “Best Music Performance Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Millikin is $21,331 for illinois music performance students with aid.

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 Millikin University Music Performance Report

#9

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified ’s music performance students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois music performance students with aid list, Olivet Nazarene has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Music Performance Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Olivet Nazarene is $20,195 for illinois music performance students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Performance at Olivet Nazarene University

#10

Wheaton College Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, Wheaton College Illinois did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Wheaton, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified ’s music performance students in 2019-2020.

Wheaton College Illinois not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Music Performance Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Wheaton College Illinois is $25,358 for illinois music performance students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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 more about Music Performance at Wheaton College Illinois

#11

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. Elmhurst University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elmhurst, Illinois. It awarded 5 ’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Elmhurst, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Music Performance Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Elmhurst is $21,485 for Illinois Music Performance students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 Elmhurst University Music Performance Report

#12

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois

With a ranking of #12, Augustana College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Augustana College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rock Island, Illinois. It awarded 1 ’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Augustana, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Music Performance Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Augustana is $23,874 for illinois music performance students with aid.

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.

Full Augustana College Music Performance Report

#13

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois

With a ranking of #13, Bradley University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Bradley University is located in Peoria, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 ’s music performance degrees to qualified students.

Bradley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Music Performance Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $25,634 for illinois music performance students with aid per year to attend Bradley University.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about Music Performance at Bradley

#14

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois

Roosevelt University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. Roosevelt is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 1 ’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

Roosevelt also took the #17 spot in our “Best Music Performance Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Roosevelt University is $22,749 for illinois music performance students with aid.

Full Roosevelt University Music Performance Report

#15

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington, Illinois

Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. Illinois Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bloomington, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois Wesleyan, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Music Performance Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois Wesleyan is $26,039 for Illinois Music Performance students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Music Performance at Illinois Wesleyan

#16

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Columbia is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 1 ’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Music Performance Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $31,099 for illinois music performance students with aid per year to attend Columbia College Chicago.

Full Columbia College Chicago Music Performance Report

#17

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Music Performance Schools in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 59 ’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at DePaul, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Music Performance Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $30,090 for Illinois Music Performance students with aid per year to attend DePaul University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Performance at DePaul University

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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