2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music (Income $0-$30k) in California
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2019-2020, 27,047 people earned their degree in music, making the major the 40th most popular in the United States. 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 California, there were 3,681 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $20,710 and $32,646 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 526 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 25 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.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the music program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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More Ways to Rank Music Schools
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 for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music (Income $0-$30k) in California
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Stanford University is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 14 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
Stanford also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #1. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cal State LA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 16 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
Cal State LA also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #19. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. University of California - Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Irvine did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456.
Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #4 spot on the list. University of California - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 26 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCLA has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 21 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cal State Fullerton has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 4 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Berkeley also took the #6 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347.
California State University - Northridge landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school handed out 56 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
CSUN also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #15. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Music at California State University - Northridge
With a ranking of #8, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
California State University - Fresno ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
Fresno State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581.
Read full report on Music at California State University - Fresno
California State University - Long Beach came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California State University - Long Beach is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 32 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
CSULB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
UCSB also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of California - Riverside ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of California - Riverside is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686, but some majors have different tuition rates.
California State University - Sacramento came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.
Sac State also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #21. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356.
University of California - San Diego landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 4 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCSD has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Music at University of California - San Diego
San Jose State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in San Jose, California, and it awarded 9 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
San Jose State also took the #13 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
California State University - East Bay ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cal State East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State East Bay, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - East Bay are $17,828, but some majors have different tuition rates.
San Francisco State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. SFSU is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 masters’s music degrees to qualified students.
SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Southern California did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s music degrees to 81 students in 2019-2020.
USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Music at University of Southern California
University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC Santa Cruz has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #20, Mills College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Oakland, California, and it awarded 15 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
Mills not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mills College are $36,263, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Redlands ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Redlands, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 15 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree music students whose families make $0-$30k list, University of Redlands has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Redlands are $22,852, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #22, Azusa Pacific University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Azusa, California, and it awarded 28 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
Azusa Pacific not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Azusa Pacific University are $16,571, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
San Francisco Conservatory of Music came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Francisco, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s music degrees to 81 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFCM, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco Conservatory of Music are $49,050, but some majors have different tuition rates.
California Institute of the Arts did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. CalArts is located in Valencia, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 35 masters’s music degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CalArts, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CalArts are $53,466, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Academy of Art University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 16 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
Academy of Art University also took the #22 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Academy of Art University are $27,688.
- Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region
- Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music (Income $0-$30k)
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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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