2027 Best Value Musicology & Ethnomusicology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Musicology & Ethnomusicology](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/musicology-and-ethnomusicology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for musicology & ethnomusicology students.
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2027 Best Value Musicology & Ethnomusicology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the musicology & ethnomusicology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Musicology & Ethnomusicology Schools
For return on investment in musicology & ethnomusicology, no school beat University Of Michigan Ann Arbor this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for musicology & ethnomusicology graduates is $19,397. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $66,254 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Students looking for strong value in musicology & ethnomusicology will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $24,625 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $25,536 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Indiana University Bloomington is a great value for students pursuing a degree in musicology & ethnomusicology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,769 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Soon after graduation, musicology & ethnomusicology degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $28,328. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Michigan State University earned it the #4 place for musicology & ethnomusicology. 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, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $40,570. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value musicology & ethnomusicology schools. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $24,340. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value musicology & ethnomusicology schools. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $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.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value musicology & ethnomusicology schools. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Students borrow a median of $23,946 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Soon after graduation, musicology & ethnomusicology degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $22,533. That is a strong return on a $23,946 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Northwestern University landed the #8 spot for musicology & ethnomusicology value this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Students borrow a median of $18,166 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $28,057. That is a strong return on a $18,166 median debt. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Butler University earned the #9 position for value in musicology & ethnomusicology this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,560. Typical student debt for musicology & ethnomusicology graduates is $24,170. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates of Butler University earn a median of $68,222 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,170 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.