2026 Best Value Musicology & Ethnomusicology Schools in Massachusetts

[Musicology & Ethnomusicology](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/musicology-and-ethnomusicology/) 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 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value musicology & ethnomusicology schools.
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2026 Best Value Musicology & Ethnomusicology Schools in Massachusetts
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
University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #1 spot for value among musicology & ethnomusicology schools in Massachusetts. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,543 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Boston University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in musicology & ethnomusicology, landing the #2 spot this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Students borrow a median of $26,957 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $30,982. Set against $26,957 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
The New England Conservatory Of Music is a great value for students pursuing a degree in musicology & ethnomusicology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Boston, The New England Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,750. Typical student debt for musicology & ethnomusicology graduates is $26,991. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates of The New England Conservatory Of Music earn a median of $24,499 early in their careers. Set against $26,991 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.