2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
73
Ranked Colleges
4,060
Degrees Awarded
$8,000
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Music is the 43rd most popular major in the country with 25,910 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, music graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $27,160 and had an average of $24,560 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 4,060 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,923 and $25,259 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 73 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The music school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Music (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northwestern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 156 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwestern also made our “Best Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern University is $245 for Great Lakes Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.
Read full report on Music at Northwestern University
Out of the 73 schools in the Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 199 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $2,670 for Great Lakes Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read full report on Music at U-M
Out of the 73 schools in the Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Michigan State University is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 208 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State University is $6,927 for Great Lakes Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music at Michigan State
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 69 degrees to qualified ’s music students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region music students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $3,981 for great lakes region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Music at UW - Madison
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 374 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington also took the #6 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $5,752 for great lakes region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - Bloomington.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music at IU Bloomington
With a ranking of #6, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 129 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC also made our “Best Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $4,858 for Great Lakes Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read full report on Music at UIUC
Oberlin College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Oberlin is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Oberlin, Ohio. It awarded 107 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Oberlin, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Oberlin is $8,756 for great lakes region music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Music at Oberlin College
University of Notre Dame came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Notre Dame, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.
Notre Dame not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Notre Dame is $9,872 for Great Lakes Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Music at Notre Dame
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 67 students in 2020-2021.
Ohio State also took the #12 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State is $7,068 for Great Lakes Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 full report on Music at Ohio State
Oakland University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Oakland is $8,949 for Great Lakes Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Music at Oakland
Ball State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Ball State is located in Muncie, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 43 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $8,273 for Great Lakes Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ball State.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%.
Full Ball State University Music Report
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 12 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $7,026 for great lakes region music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 full report on Music at IUPUI
Indiana University - South Bend came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in South Bend, Indiana, this small public school handed out 9 degrees to qualified ’s music students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $5,504 for Great Lakes Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - South Bend.
Full Indiana University - South Bend Music Report
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a fairly large school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin that handed out 7 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UW - La Crosse is $7,517 for great lakes region music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Music at UW - La Crosse
With a ranking of #15, Sinclair Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Dayton, Ohio, and it awarded 6 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Sinclair Community College is $3,594 for great lakes region music students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Music at Sinclair Community College
With a ranking of #16, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 48 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2020-2021.
UW - Eau Claire not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $9,547 for great lakes region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.
Read full report on Music at UW - Eau Claire
DePauw University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Greencastle, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 18 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2020-2021.
DePauw also took the #11 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePauw University is $19,503 for great lakes region music students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music at DePauw University
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 253 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
UC also made our “Best Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for UC is $15,061 for Great Lakes Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%.
Full UC Music Report
University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 6 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $8,438 for great lakes region music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%.
Full UW - River Falls Music Report
Western Michigan University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. WMU is a fairly large public school situated in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It awarded 73 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
WMU also made our “Best Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $13,112 for Great Lakes Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Western Michigan University.
Read full report on Music at WMU
Grand Valley State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for GVSU is $10,259 for Great Lakes Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full GVSU Music Report
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 29 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $8,047 for Great Lakes Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Music at SIUE
With a ranking of #23, Indiana State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana State University is a medium-sized school located in Terre Haute, Indiana that handed out 35 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,104 for great lakes region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana State University.
Read full report on Music at Indiana State
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. This medium-sized school is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and it awarded 12 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $7,903 for great lakes region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Stevens Point.
Full University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Music Report
With a ranking of #25, Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. PFW is a medium-sized school located in Fort Wayne, Indiana that handed out 22 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for PFW is $7,414 for great lakes region music students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Music at PFW
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