2023 Best Value Colleges for Music (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
38
Ranked Colleges
1,308
Degrees Awarded
$11,300
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 25,910 people earned their degree in music, making the major the 43rd most popular in the United States. 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 Plains States region, there were 1,308 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,383 and $23,796 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 38 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.
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.
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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
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. 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 Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Music (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Washington University in St Louis is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 15 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
WUSTL also took the #1 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WUSTL is $1,556 for plains states region music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read more about Music at Washington University in St Louis
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 69 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region music students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $7,698 for Plains States Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Music Report
Out of the 38 schools in the Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Truman State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Kirksville, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.
Truman State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $7,208 for plains states region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Truman State.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Truman State Music Report
Out of the 38 schools in the Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 36 degrees to qualified ’s music students in 2020-2021.
UNI also took the #3 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $10,513 for plains states region music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read more about Music at University of Northern Iowa
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend St Olaf College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. St Olaf College is a small school located in Northfield, Minnesota that handed out 53 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Olaf, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St Olaf College is $11,112 for plains states region music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music at St. Olaf
University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UMN Duluth is a medium-sized public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 16 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Duluth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Duluth is $7,843 for Plains States Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Music Report
With a ranking of #7, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Fargo, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 32 students in 2020-2021.
North Dakota State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University - Main Campus is $11,835 for Plains States Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 more about Music at North Dakota State University - Main Campus
Iowa State University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa State, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State University is $9,766 for Plains States 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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 Iowa State University
University of Iowa landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 84 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,554 for plains states region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Iowa.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Music at Iowa
University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. UMSL is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 18 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UMSL is $9,991 for plains states region music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Music at University of Missouri - St Louis
University of Missouri - Kansas City came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Missouri - Kansas City is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 111 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region music students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMKC has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMKC is $12,724 for Plains States Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UMKC Music Report
University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this large public school handed out 26 degrees to qualified ’s music students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $11,005 for Plains States Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Music at University of Missouri - Columbia
University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this large public school awarded 57 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2020-2021.
UNL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln is $11,672 for Plains States Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Music at University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Winona State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Winona State University is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
Winona State also took the #16 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Winona State University is $11,721 for plains states region music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad 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 full report on Music at Winona State University
With a ranking of #15, Wichita State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wichita State University is a public institution located in Wichita, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
WSU also made our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend Wichita State University is $11,687 for Plains States Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Music at WSU
University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school awarded 35 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Omaha is $10,578 for Plains States Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Nebraska at Omaha Music Report
Luther College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Luther is located in Decorah, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
Luther did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Luther is $21,838 for plains states region music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 Luther College Music Report
Kansas State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Kansas State University is a large school located in Manhattan, Kansas that handed out 24 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
K -State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Kansas State University is $13,436 for plains states 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 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music at K -State
Saint Cloud State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Saint Cloud State University is $10,348 for Plains States Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Saint Cloud State University Music Report
Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mankato, Minnesota, and it awarded 3 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State Mankato is $11,692 for Plains States Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Minnesota State Mankato Music Report
With a ranking of #21, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Missouri State University - Springfield is a large public school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 47 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
Missouri State also took the #24 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,381 for plains states region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Missouri State University - Springfield.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Missouri State University - Springfield Music Report
With a ranking of #22, Missouri Southern State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Joplin, Missouri, and it awarded 13 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Missouri Southern State University is $7,881 for Plains States Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Missouri Southern State University Music Report
With a ranking of #23, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and it awarded 67 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at KU, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,666 for plains states region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Kansas.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Full University of Kansas Music Report
University of Nebraska at Kearney came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Nebraska at Kearney is a medium-sized school located in Kearney, Nebraska that handed out 17 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
UNK not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNK is $14,087 for Plains States Region Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music at University of Nebraska at Kearney
University of South Dakota came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of South Dakota is a medium-sized public school situated in Vermillion, South Dakota. It awarded 15 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at USD, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,495 for plains states region music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend USD.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 University of South Dakota
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