[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 39 schools to find the best return on investment for music performance students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music performance degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 best value for music performance in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $19,397. Early-career music performance graduates make about $29,641. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music performance, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $25,972 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $54,785. Set against $25,972 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music performance, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $24,625. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $25,536. Set against $24,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Illinois University earned it the #4 place for music performance. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $41,632. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Western Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music performance, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,572. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $30,000. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $32,666. Set against $30,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #6 position for value in music performance this year. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $25,062 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $35,273. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Ball State University earned the #7 position for value in music performance this year. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $24,518. Early-career music performance graduates make about $47,863. That is a strong return on a $24,518 median debt. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $20,769 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $28,328. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earned the #9 position for value in music performance this year. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,532, with out-of-state students paying around $22,887. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $24,119 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $49,424. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #10 for value in music performance this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $21,813. Early-career music performance graduates make about $31,552. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #11 position for value in music performance this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $27,000. Music Performance graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $35,209 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Western Michigan University placed #12 among the best values for music performance. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $27,000. Early-career music performance graduates make about $27,361. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Eastern Michigan University came in at #13 for value in music performance this year. Eastern Michigan University is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. In-state tuition and fees average $16,990. Students borrow a median of $28,781 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $47,887. Set against $28,781 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
Cleveland State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $32,887 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #15 for value in music performance this year. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,991, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Students borrow a median of $25,836 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $49,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $35,863. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Central Michigan University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Students borrow a median of $27,975 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $24,911. Set against $27,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Michigan State University landed the #18 spot for music performance value this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $26,750. Early-career music performance graduates make about $40,570. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Otterbein University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Set in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,548. Students borrow a median of $25,282 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of Otterbein University earn a median of $45,871 early in their careers. Set against $25,282 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #20 position for value in music performance this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $34,193. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Kent State University At Kent placed #21 among the best values for music performance. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $28,000. Music Performance graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $24,340 early in their careers. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Roosevelt University placed #22 among the best values for music performance. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,315. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,750 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $29,974 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Depauw University earned the #23 position for value in music performance this year. Depauw University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Greencastle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,070. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $46,127. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Capital University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Located in the suburb of Columbus, Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,234. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Capital University earn a median of $33,143 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Lawrence University came in at #25 for value in music performance this year. Lawrence University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Appleton. Students from in state pay about $56,982 in tuition and fees. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Median earnings reach $55,789 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
These schools also delivered strong value for music performance this year:
Narrow Music Performance Schools by State
More Music Performance Rankings
View All Music Performance Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 39 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.
