2022 Best Value Colleges for Music (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
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 Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
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 the Southwest region, there were 2,964 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,126 and $28,647 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 56 colleges that offer a degree in music. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great music programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the music program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value 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 in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a large school located in Edinburg, Texas that handed out 44 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
UT Rio Grande Valley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Music Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UT Rio Grande Valley is $2,993 for Southwest Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
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 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 ’s music degrees to 87 students in 2019-2020.
Rice did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Music Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Rice University is $3,437 for Southwest Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The 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 excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas A&M International University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Laredo, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.
Texas A&M International University also made our “Best Music Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #21. It costs about $2,261 for southwest region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas A&M International University.
Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Texas landed the #4 spot on the list. University of North Texas is a public institution located in Denton, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 344 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UNT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Music Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $8,521 for southwest region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNT.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
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 in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a large public school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 46 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
UTSA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Music Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $10,516 for southwest region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UTSA.
Read more about Music at The University of Texas at San Antonio
Texas Tech University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lubbock, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 115 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas Tech, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $12,317 for southwest region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas Tech University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Texas Woman’s University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Denton, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 46 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Texas Woman’s University is $6,706 for Southwest Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The University of Texas at El Paso ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. El Paso, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region music students whose families make $0-$30k list, UTEP has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Music Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $7,092 for southwest region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UTEP.
Stephen F Austin State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Stephen F Austin State University is a public institution located in Nacogdoches, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 106 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
SFASU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SFASU is $8,650 for southwest region music students whose families make $0-$30k.
University of Houston landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Houston is located in Houston, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 102 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
UH also took the #4 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UH is $10,203 for southwest region music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Austin Community College District did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Austin, Texas, this large public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $3,134 for southwest region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Austin Community College District.
The University of Texas at Tyler did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. UT Tyler is located in Tyler, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $6,797 for southwest region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The University of Texas at Tyler.
Read full report on Music at The University of Texas at Tyler
The University of Texas at Austin ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. The University of Texas at Austin is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 136 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
UT Austin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Music Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $12,203 for Southwest Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The University of Texas at Austin.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, 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%.
Collin County Community College District did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Collin County Community College District is a large public school situated in McKinney, Texas. It awarded 8 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Collin County Community College District is $4,565 for Southwest Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Music at Collin County Community College District
Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, this large public school handed out 29 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2019-2020.
OSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Music Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $8,669 for southwest region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chickasha, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $5,506 for southwest region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend USAO.
Read full report on Music at University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
Texas A&M University - Kingsville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Texas A&M Kingsville is located in Kingsville, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
Texas A&M Kingsville also took the #13 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M Kingsville is $11,105 for Southwest Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
Texas State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Texas State University is a large public school situated in San Marcos, Texas. It awarded 101 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
Texas State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Music Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $11,125 for Southwest Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas State.
Arizona State University - Tempe came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. ASU - Tempe is a large public school situated in Tempe, Arizona. It awarded 159 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $7,044 for southwest region 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.
Sam Houston State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Huntsville, Texas, this large public school handed out 53 diplomas to qualified ’s music students 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 Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Sam Houston State University is $10,561 for southwest region music students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a ranking of #21, West Texas A&M University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Canyon, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 55 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region music students whose families make $0-$30k list, West Texas A&M University has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Music Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $8,730 for Southwest Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend West Texas A&M University.
University of Arizona landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Tucson, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 85 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Arizona is $10,562 for southwest region music students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Texas A&M University - Commerce came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Texas A&M Commerce is located in Commerce, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 57 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
Texas A&M Commerce also made our “Best Music Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #20. It costs about $10,013 for Southwest Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas A&M Commerce.
Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus is a medium-sized school located in Portales, New Mexico that handed out 16 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $8,115 for southwest region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend ENMU - Main Campus.
The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Arlington, Texas, this large public school awarded 66 degrees to qualified ’s music students in 2019-2020.
UT Arlington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Music Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Arlington is $11,811 for southwest region music students whose families make $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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