[Music Performance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-performance/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music performance students.
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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.
Montclair State University earned the #1 spot for value among music performance schools in New Jersey. Set in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,912 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,022. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of Montclair State University earn a median of $41,164 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at New Jersey City University earned it the #2 place for music performance. Set in the city of Jersey City, New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,460. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $18,544. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. New Jersey City University admits about 98% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in music performance will find it at William Paterson University Of New Jersey, which ranked #3. William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public school located in the suburb of Wayne. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,704, with out-of-state students paying around $25,344. Students borrow a median of $26,875 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of William Paterson University Of New Jersey earn a median of $46,981 early in their careers. Set against $26,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Students looking for strong value in music performance will find it at Rowan University, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,574, with out-of-state students paying around $26,932. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Rowan University generally make around $32,781. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rutgers University New Brunswick earned it the #5 place for music performance. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $36,818 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
More Music Performance Rankings
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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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
