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2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region

26 Ranked Colleges
925 Degrees Awarded
$18,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 the Far Western US Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 7,335 people earned their degree in music performance, making the major the 116th most popular in the United States.

Across the Far Western US region, there were 925 music performance graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking analyzed 26 colleges that offered a degree in music performance. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent music performance programs, but they also cost less that 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.

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The music performance school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region”.

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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Music Performance in the Far Western US Region

1

Out of the 26 schools in the Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #1 spot on the list. California State University - Long Beach is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 122 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $10,054 for far western us region music performance students per year to attend CSULB.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full CSULB Music Performance Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region list. CSUN is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 76 ’s music performance degrees in 2020-2021.

CSUN also made our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend CSUN is $8,523 for Far Western US Region Music Performance students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%.

Read full report on Music Performance at California State University - Northridge

3
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Jose State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region list. San Jose State is located in San Jose, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s music performance degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at San Jose State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State University is $16,542 for Far Western US Region Music Performance students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 San Jose State University

4
CWU crest
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, Washington

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central Washington University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region. CWU is located in Ellensburg, Washington and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s music performance degrees to qualified students.

CWU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $16,514 for far western us region music performance students per year to attend Central Washington University.

Read full report on Music Performance at CWU

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fullerton. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school handed out 50 degrees to qualified ’s music performance students in 2020-2021.

Cal State Fullerton also made our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend Cal State Fullerton is $8,003 for Far Western US Region Music Performance students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Performance at Cal State Fullerton

6
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. San Francisco State University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s music performance degrees to qualified students.

SFSU also made our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend San Francisco State University is $14,459 for far western us region music performance students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 full report on Music Performance at San Francisco State University

7

With a ranking of #7, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Sac State is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 49 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Sac State also took the #21 spot in our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Sac State is $11,178 for Far Western US Region Music Performance students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Performance at California State University - Sacramento

8
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

San Diego State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #8. SDSU is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 70 ’s music performance degrees in 2020-2021.

SDSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend San Diego State University is $13,845 for far western us region music performance students.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full San Diego State University Music Performance Report

9
WWU crest
Western Washington University
Bellingham, Washington

Western Washington University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Bellingham, Washington, this fairly large public school handed out 5 degrees to qualified ’s music performance students in 2020-2021.

WWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $17,070 for Far Western US Region Music Performance students per year to attend WWU.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Western Washington University Music Performance Report

10
Wazzu crest
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington

With a ranking of #10, Washington State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Wazzu is a large school located in Pullman, Washington that handed out 6 ’s music performance degrees in 2020-2021.

Wazzu also made our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for Washington State University is $15,300 for Far Western US Region Music Performance students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 Wazzu

11

University of Nevada - Reno ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Reno, Nevada is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music performance degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.

UNR not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $14,930 for Far Western US Region Music Performance students per year to attend UNR.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Performance at University of Nevada - Reno

12

California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #12. Cal State LA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 47 ’s music performance degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State LA, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Los Angeles is $3,302 for far western us region music performance students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Music Performance Report

13

Southern Oregon University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #13. Ashland, Oregon is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music performance degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

Southern Oregon University also took the #25 spot in our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Oregon University is $10,187 for far western us region music performance students.

Read more about Music Performance at Southern Oregon University

14

With a ranking of #14, Portland State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Portland State University is a public institution located in Portland, Oregon. The school has a large population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Portland State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Portland State University is $12,498 for far western us region music performance students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Performance at Portland State University

15

California State University - Stanislaus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Turlock, California, this fairly large public school handed out 9 degrees to qualified ’s music performance students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Stan State is $6,566 for far western us region music performance students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Performance at Stan State

16
UO crest
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon

University of Oregon did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #16. UO is located in Eugene, Oregon and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s music performance degrees to qualified students.

UO also took the #7 spot in our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $18,047 for far western us region music performance students per year to attend UO.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Performance at UO

17

With a ranking of #17, University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region list. UW Seattle is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 5 ’s music performance degrees in 2020-2021.

UW Seattle also took the #3 spot in our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus is $12,017 for far western us region music performance students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 93%.

Read full report on Music Performance at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

18
Cornish College of the Arts crest
Cornish College of the Arts
Seattle, Washington

Cornish College of the Arts did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #18. Cornish College of the Arts is a small school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 16 ’s music performance degrees in 2020-2021.

Cornish College of the Arts also made our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for Cornish College of the Arts is $38,851 for far western us region music performance students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Cornish College of the Arts Music Performance Report

19

University of California - Los Angeles ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region list. University of California - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 27 ’s music performance degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $15,023 for far western us region music performance students per year to attend UCLA.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 full report on Music Performance at University of California - Los Angeles

20
Biola crest
Biola University
La Mirada, California

With a ranking of #20, Biola University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Biola University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in La Mirada, California. It awarded 5 ’s music performance degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our far western us region music performance students list, Biola has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Biola is $33,269 for far western us region music performance students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.

Read full report on Music Performance at Biola

21

University of California - Irvine landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. This large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 17 ’s music performance degrees in 2020-2021.

UC Irvine also took the #5 spot in our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Irvine is $12,209 for far western us region music performance students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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.

Read more about Music Performance at University of California - Irvine

22
University of Redlands crest
University of Redlands
Redlands, California

With a ranking of #22, University of Redlands did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region list. University of Redlands is a private not-for-profit institution located in Redlands, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

University of Redlands also made our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for University of Redlands is $26,098 for far western us region music performance students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Performance at University of Redlands

23

With a ranking of #23, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school awarded 18 degrees to qualified ’s music performance students in 2020-2021.

UC Santa Cruz did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $17,930 for far western us region music performance students per year to attend University of California - Santa Cruz.

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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 University of California - Santa Cruz Music Performance Report

24

California Institute of the Arts landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. California Institute of the Arts is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Valencia, California. It awarded 13 ’s music performance degrees in 2020-2021.

CalArts not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for CalArts is $56,876 for Far Western US Region Music Performance students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad 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 California Institute of the Arts

25
Chapman crest
Chapman University
Orange, California

With a ranking of #25, Chapman University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Chapman University is a medium-sized school located in Orange, California that handed out 5 ’s music performance degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our far western us region music performance students list, Chapman has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Music Performance Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $44,198 for Far Western US Region Music Performance students per year to attend Chapman.

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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 Chapman Music Performance Report

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