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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music Performance in Illinois

16 Ranked Colleges
211 Degrees Awarded
$22,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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” ranking analyzed 16 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.

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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to 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

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students.

Top 16 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music Performance in Illinois

#1

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Illinois State University is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 25 bachelors’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students list, Illinois State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $20,895 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Music Performance students per year to attend Illinois State.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Performance at Illinois State University

#2

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Illinois University landed the #2 spot on the list. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 38 bachelors’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WIU, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Illinois University is $16,210 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students.

Read full report on Music Performance at Western Illinois University

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #3 spot on the 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.

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

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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 UIUC Music Performance Report

#4

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 #4 for the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois. NIU is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 35 bachelors’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend NIU is $18,259 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Music Performance students.

Full Northern Illinois University Music Performance Report

#15 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Chicago. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music performance degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students list, UIC has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIC is $13,312 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students.

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%.

Read more about Music Performance at University of Illinois at Chicago

#6

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, North Park University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. North Park is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s music performance degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students list, North Park has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Park is $19,170 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Music Performance at North Park

#7

Wheaton College Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Wheaton College Illinois did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Wheaton, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s music performance students in 2019-2020.

Wheaton College Illinois also took the #2 spot in our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $25,358 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students per year to attend Wheaton College Illinois.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Music Performance at Wheaton College Illinois

#8

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Olivet Nazarene University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking. Bourbonnais, 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 1 students in 2019-2020.

Olivet Nazarene also made our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend Olivet Nazarene is $20,195 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Music Performance students.

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 Olivet Nazarene Music Performance Report

#9

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

Bradley University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois 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.

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

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Music Performance at Bradley University

#10

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

Columbia College Chicago ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s music performance degrees to qualified students.

Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Columbia is $31,099 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students.

Full Columbia Music Performance Report

#11

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

Elmhurst University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking, coming in at #11. Elmhurst University is located in Elmhurst, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s music performance degrees to qualified students.

Elmhurst also took the #13 spot in our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $21,485 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Music Performance students per year to attend Elmhurst University.

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

#12

Millikin University

Decatur, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

Millikin University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking. Decatur, 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 20 students in 2019-2020.

Millikin also took the #9 spot in our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Millikin is $21,331 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Music Performance at Millikin

#13

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Augustana College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. Augustana College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rock Island, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students list, Augustana has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $23,874 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students per year to attend Augustana College.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Full Augustana Music Performance Report

#14

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, DePaul University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. DePaul University is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 17 bachelors’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

DePaul also took the #14 spot in our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePaul is $30,090 for illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students.

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%.

Full DePaul University Music Performance Report

#15

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Illinois Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. Illinois Wesleyan University is a small school located in Bloomington, Illinois that handed out 5 bachelors’s music performance degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree music performance students list, Illinois Wesleyan has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Music Performance Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois Wesleyan is $26,039 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Music Performance students.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.

Read more about Music Performance at Illinois Wesleyan

#16

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Northwestern University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Performance Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 20 degrees to qualified bachelors’s music performance students 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. It costs about $24,664 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Music Performance students per year to attend Northwestern.

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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 Northwestern Music Performance Report

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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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