[Music Performance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-performance/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 95 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value music performance schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music performance, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Chicago, our #1 best value for music performance in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $61,829 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Illinois University earned it the #2 place for music performance. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,572. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $30,000. Music Performance graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $32,666 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,000 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Millikin University one of the best values for music performance. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $26,792 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,996 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Millikin University generally make around $21,138. That is a strong return on a $26,996 median debt. Millikin University admits about 67% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,532, with out-of-state students paying around $22,887. Students borrow a median of $24,119 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $49,424. That is a strong return on a $24,119 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Youngstown State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Students borrow a median of $26,373 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $34,657 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,373 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #6 for value in music performance this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $19,397 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $29,641. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Grand Rapids Community College placed #7 among the best values for music performance. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,179 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,219 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $11,780. Music Performance graduates of Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of $41,689 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Illinois University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $29,000. Early-career music performance graduates make about $41,632. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #9 for value in music performance 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, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $24,625 to complete the music performance program here. 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. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #10 for value in music performance this year. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $18,248. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $24,850. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $41,256. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #11 position for value in music performance this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $20,769. Early-career music performance graduates make about $28,328. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Ball State University came in at #12 for value in music performance this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $24,518 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $47,863. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #13 for value in music performance this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $21,813. Music Performance graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $31,552 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #14 among the best values for music performance. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $35,209. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Central Michigan University placed #15 among the best values for music performance. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,975 in student loans. 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.
Wright State University Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $25,836. Early-career music performance graduates make about $49,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wright State University Main Campus admits about 96% of applicants.
Illinois State University earned the #17 position for value in music performance this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $35,863. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University earned the #18 position for value in music performance this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,990. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $28,781. Music Performance graduates of Eastern Michigan University earn a median of $47,887 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
Western Michigan University earned the #19 position for value in music performance this year. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $27,361 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Michigan State University placed #20 among the best values for music performance. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #21 position for value in music performance this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $34,193. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent placed #22 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. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $24,340. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #23 position for value in music performance this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $27,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Roosevelt University landed the #24 spot for music performance value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,315. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $27,750. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $29,974. Set against $27,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roosevelt University admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #25 position for value in music performance this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $23,946 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $22,533. Set against $23,946 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
These schools also delivered strong value for music performance this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 95 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 32 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.
