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2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

118 Ranked Colleges
5,336 Degrees Awarded
$7,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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 Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 Southeast region, there were 5,336 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $25,836 and $24,882 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 118 colleges that offered a degree in music. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality music programs that also have a lower cost than 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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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 Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Music (Income $30-$48k) in the Southeast Region

1
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Duke University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Durham, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Duke, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $-927 for southeast region music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Duke. A negative average net price may seem strange, but it generally means that financial aid will more than cover the cost to attend the school.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% 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%. 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 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.

Read more about Music at Duke

2
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Vanderbilt University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 44 students in 2020-2021.

Vanderbilt also took the #2 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Vanderbilt University is $4,652 for Southeast Region Music students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%. 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.

Read more about Music at Vanderbilt

3
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Florida is a large public school situated in Gainesville, Florida. It awarded 62 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

UF also made our “Best Music Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $2,857 for Southeast Region Music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UF.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Music at UF

4
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Florida State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Florida State is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 171 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Florida State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Music Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Florida State is $7,349 for southeast region music students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 Florida State Music Report

5
Emory crest
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Emory University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 22 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2020-2021.

Emory also made our “Best Music Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Emory is $8,976 for Southeast Region Music students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at Emory

6

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Chapel Hill, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.

UNC Chapel Hill not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Music Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $5,729 for southeast region music students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

7
Valencia College crest
Valencia College
Orlando, Florida

Valencia College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 113 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

Valencia College also took the #19 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Valencia College is $5,637 for southeast region music students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Valencia College Music Report

8
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Georgia is a large school located in Athens, Georgia that handed out 71 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

UGA also took the #13 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $10,688 for southeast region music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UGA.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music at University of Georgia

9

University of Central Florida ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Central Florida is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 53 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Central Florida is $6,256 for southeast region music students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 UCF Music Report

10
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

With a ranking of #10, University of Virginia - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 46 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Virginia, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Virginia - Main Campus is $10,063 for Southeast Region Music students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at University of Virginia

11

University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. University of South Florida - Main Campus is located in Tampa, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 34 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend USF Tampa is $5,632 for southeast region music students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.

Read more about Music at University of South Florida - Main Campus

12

The University of West Florida landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UWF is located in Pensacola, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $3,827 for southeast region music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UWF.

Read more about Music at UWF

12
UNF crest
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, Florida

University of North Florida came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of North Florida is located in Jacksonville, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 52 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of North Florida is $6,074 for Southeast Region Music students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 full report on Music at University of North Florida

14

With a ranking of #14, University of North Carolina School of the Arts did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of North Carolina School of the Arts is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 41 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $6,948 for southeast region music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UNCSA.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.

Full UNCSA Music Report

15

Florida International University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. Florida International University is a public institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 43 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for FIU is $4,882 for southeast region music students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.

Full FIU Music Report

16
NKU crest
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, Kentucky

Northern Kentucky University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Highland Heights, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend NKU is $5,947 for southeast region music students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Music at Northern Kentucky University

17
UK crest
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

With a ranking of #17, University of Kentucky did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Lexington, Kentucky, this large public school awarded 60 degrees to qualified ’s music students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region music students whose families make $30-$48k list, UK has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Music Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UK is $13,424 for Southeast Region Music students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at UK

18
Middle Tennessee State University crest
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Middle Tennessee State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Middle Tennessee State University is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 148 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

Middle Tennessee State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Music Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Middle Tennessee State University is $10,661 for Southeast Region Music students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Middle Tennessee State University Music Report

19
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. WVU is a large school located in Morgantown, West Virginia that handed out 68 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for West Virginia University is $10,250 for Southeast Region Music students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full WVU Music Report

20

University of North Carolina at Greensboro did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. Greensboro, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 86 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $9,190 for Southeast Region Music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UNC Greensboro.

Full UNC Greensboro Music Report

21
FAU crest
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Boca Raton, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Florida Atlantic University is $8,262 for southeast region music students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music at Florida Atlantic University

22
Murray State crest
Murray State University
Murray, Kentucky

Murray State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Murray State is located in Murray, Kentucky and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Murray State University is $9,520 for southeast region music students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Music at Murray State University

23

John Tyler Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. John Tyler Community College is a medium-sized school located in Chester, Virginia that handed out 5 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $5,447 for Southeast Region Music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend John Tyler Community College.

Full John Tyler Community College Music Report

24
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. Virginia Tech is a public institution located in Blacksburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Virginia Tech also took the #15 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Tech is $14,003 for Southeast Region Music students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 Virginia Tech

25
UARK crest
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas

University of Arkansas ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UARK is a large school located in Fayetteville, Arkansas that handed out 46 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UARK, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Music Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $13,690 for Southeast Region Music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UARK.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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 more about Music at University of Arkansas

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