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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

49 Ranked Colleges
1,633 Degrees Awarded
$8,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Music is the 40th most popular major in the country with 27,047 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, music graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $25,639 and had an average of $28,653 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 2,964 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,126 and $28,647 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,633 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,896 and $23,899 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 49 colleges that offer a degree in music. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent music programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the music program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UT Rio Grande Valley is located in Edinburg, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 39 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

UT Rio Grande Valley also took the #4 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $2,993 for southwest region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music at UT Rio Grande Valley

#2

Rice University

Houston, Texas
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rice University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Houston, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rice, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rice University is $3,437 for southwest region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Music at Rice University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A&M International University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Laredo, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M International University also made our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #21. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M International University is $2,261 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Music at Texas A&M International University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Texas. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Denton, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 186 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNT, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $8,521 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of North Texas.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Music at UNT

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at San Antonio. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 42 students in 2019-2020.

UTSA also took the #9 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UTSA is $10,516 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Music at The University of Texas at San Antonio

#6

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Lubbock, Texas, and it awarded 63 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech also took the #5 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $12,317 for southwest region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas Tech.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Music at Texas Tech

#7

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Houston is located in Houston, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 66 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k list, UH has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UH is $10,203 for southwest region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Music at UH

Texas Woman’s University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. TWU is a public institution located in Denton, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

TWU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas Woman’s University is $6,706 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Music at Texas Woman’s University

The University of Texas at El Paso came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in El Paso, Texas, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

UTEP did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UTEP is $7,092 for southwest region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full The University of Texas at El Paso Music Report

The University of Texas at Austin came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UT Austin is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 59 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Austin also took the #1 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Austin is $12,203 for southwest region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Music at UT Austin

Stephen F Austin State University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Nacogdoches, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 83 students in 2019-2020.

SFASU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $8,650 for southwest region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SFASU.

Read more about Music at Stephen F Austin State University

#20 in overall quality

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OSU, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is $8,669 for southwest region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Music at OSU

#13

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas State is a large school located in San Marcos, Texas that handed out 74 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $11,125 for southwest region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas State.

Read full report on Music at Texas State

The University of Texas at Tyler ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. The University of Texas at Tyler is located in Tyler, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Tyler is $6,797 for southwest region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UT Tyler Music Report

Texas A&M University - Kingsville came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Texas A&M Kingsville is a medium-sized public school situated in Kingsville, Texas. It awarded 27 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k list, Texas A&M Kingsville has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M Kingsville is $11,105 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Music at Texas A&M Kingsville

University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. USAO is a small public school situated in Chickasha, Oklahoma. It awarded 4 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,506 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend USAO.

Read more about Music at USAO

With a ranking of #17, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 60 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,044 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend ASU - Tempe.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Arizona State University - Tempe Music Report

Texas A&M University - Commerce did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Texas A&M University - Commerce is a fairly large school located in Commerce, Texas that handed out 39 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k list, Texas A&M Commerce has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M Commerce is $10,013 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Music at Texas A&M Commerce

#19

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Tucson, Arizona, this large public school awarded 41 degrees to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Arizona is $10,562 for southwest region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Music at University of Arizona

#20

West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas

West Texas A&M University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Canyon, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 51 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at West Texas A&M University, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend West Texas A&M University is $8,730 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Music at West Texas A&M University

#21

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas

Sam Houston State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Huntsville, Texas, and it awarded 44 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SHSU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SHSU is $10,561 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Music at Sam Houston State University

Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Portales, New Mexico, this medium-sized public school awarded 16 degrees to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend ENMU - Main Campus is $8,115 for southwest region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Music at Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus

The University of Texas at Arlington ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Arlington, Texas, this large public school awarded 50 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Arlington has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Arlington is $11,811 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full The University of Texas at Arlington Music Report

#24

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

With a ranking of #24, Northeastern State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. NSU is located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for NSU is $7,614 for southwest region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Music at Northeastern State University

With a ranking of #25, University of Central Oklahoma did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UCO is located in Edmond, Oklahoma and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 41 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

UCO also made our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for University of Central Oklahoma is $12,297 for southwest region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UCO Music Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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