[Music Performance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-performance/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong music performance education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value music performance schools.
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Featured Music Performance Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
MBA in Music Business
Earn the music business degree that fits into the business world – and partners Southern New Hampshire University with world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music performance degrees they offer, see the list below.
Portland State University earned the #1 spot for value among music performance schools in Oregon. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,118, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,846 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $17,638. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Southern Oregon University one of the best values for music performance. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,762, with out-of-state students paying around $31,887. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $24,951 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $41,038. That is a strong return on a $24,951 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Oregon State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music performance, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $19,184 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $29,630. Set against $19,184 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Oregon earned it the #4 place for music performance. Located in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,320, with out-of-state students paying around $42,516. Students borrow a median of $20,583 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $20,707 early in their careers. Set against $20,583 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Oregon admits about 88% of applicants.
More Music Performance Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
