Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k

29 Ranked Colleges
1,073 Degrees Awarded
$26,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k” 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 Illinois, there were 1,073 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $23,747 and $27,432 respectively.

This year’s “Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k” ranking analyzed 29 colleges that offered 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.

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

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k” list to help you make the college decision.

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. 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.

8248213102075824628233632058527310258332563720643271092181923903280472440824018283452933034164323884346532116290863110434148

Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Music (Income Over $110k) in Illinois

#1

Elgin Community College

Elgin, Illinois

Out of the 29 schools in the Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Elgin Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Elgin, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified ’s music students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $4,185 for illinois music students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend ECC.

Read full report on Music at Elgin Community College

#2

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Eastern Illinois University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k list. Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

EIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Illinois University is $14,607 for Illinois Music students whose families make more than $110k.

Full EIU Music Report

#3

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Western Illinois University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k. WIU is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 51 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

WIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Western Illinois University is $16,210 for illinois music students whose families make more than $110k.

Read more about Music at Western Illinois University

#4

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Park University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

North Park also made our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $19,170 for Illinois Music students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend North Park University.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 North Park University

#5

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Out of the 29 schools in the Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northern Illinois University landed the #5 spot on the list. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 71 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU also took the #18 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NIU is $18,259 for Illinois Music students whose families make more than $110k.

Read full report on Music at Northern Illinois University

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 40 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

SIUE did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend SIUE is $14,423 for illinois music students whose families make more than $110k.

Read more about Music at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

With a ranking of #7, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2022 Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 141 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois music students whose families make more than $110k list, UIUC has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $15,880 for illinois music students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, 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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#8

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #8. Olivet Nazarene University is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

Olivet Nazarene did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Olivet Nazarene is $20,195 for illinois music students whose families make more than $110k.

The 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 Olivet Nazarene

#9

Millikin University

Decatur, Illinois

Millikin University did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #9. Millikin University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Decatur, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois music students whose families make more than $110k list, Millikin has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Millikin University is $21,331 for illinois music students whose families make more than $110k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Music at Millikin University

#10

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois

University of St Francis ranked #10 on this year’s Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k list. Located in Joliet, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Saint Francis, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of St Francis is $17,538 for illinois music students whose families make more than $110k.

The low 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%.

Full University of Saint Francis Music Report

#11

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

With a ranking of #11, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k list. Illinois State University is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 67 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our illinois music students whose families make more than $110k list, Illinois State has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $20,895 for illinois music students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Illinois State.

The low 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 Illinois State University Music Report

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.

SIUC also made our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $16,945 for Illinois Music students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Full SIUC Music Report

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #13 on this year’s Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k list. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 9 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC also made our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,312 for illinois music students whose families make more than $110k.

The 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 UIC

#14

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois

With a ranking of #14, Augustana College did quite well on the 2022 Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k list. Augustana is a small school located in Rock Island, Illinois that handed out 3 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Augustana did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Augustana College is $23,874 for illinois music students whose families make more than $110k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, 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 85%.

Read full report on Music at Augustana

Trinity International University - Illinois ranked #15 on this year’s Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k list. Located in Deerfield, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend TIU Illinois is $21,204 for Illinois Music students whose families make more than $110k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Music at Trinity International University - Illinois

#16

Dominican University

River Forest, Illinois

Dominican University did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #16. Dominican University is a private not-for-profit institution located in River Forest, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Dominican U is $19,268 for illinois music students whose families make more than $110k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Dominican University Music Report

#17

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Elmhurst, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

Elmhurst not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $21,485 for Illinois Music students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Elmhurst University.

The low 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 Elmhurst University Music Report

#18

North Central College

Naperville, Illinois

North Central College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k list. North Central College is located in Naperville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

North Central also made our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for North Central is $24,786 for illinois music students whose families make more than $110k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full North Central College Music Report

#19

Wheaton College Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois

Wheaton College Illinois came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Wheaton College Illinois is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wheaton, Illinois. It awarded 26 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Wheaton College Illinois also took the #2 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wheaton College Illinois is $25,358 for illinois music students whose families make more than $110k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Read more about Music at Wheaton College Illinois

#20

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, Illinois

Lake Forest College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k ranking. This small school is located in Lake Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 7 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Lake Forest also took the #11 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lake Forest is $26,426 for illinois music students whose families make more than $110k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Lake Forest Music Report

#21

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #21. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 160 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $24,664 for Illinois Music students whose families make more than $110k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Northwestern University Music Report

#22

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois

With a ranking of #22, Bradley University did quite well on the 2022 Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k list. This medium-sized school is located in Peoria, Illinois, and it awarded 8 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Bradley also made our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Bradley University is $25,634 for Illinois Music students whose families make more than $110k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low 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%.

Read full report on Music at Bradley

#23

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois

Roosevelt University did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #23. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 56 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $22,749 for illinois music students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Roosevelt University.

Read more about Music at Roosevelt

#24

Knox College

Galesburg, Illinois

Knox College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Knox College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Galesburg, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $22,292 for Illinois Music students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Knox.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%.

Full Knox College Music Report

#25

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago ranked #25 on this year’s Best Vallue Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making Over $110k list. Columbia is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 67 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia also took the #23 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Columbia College Chicago is $31,099 for illinois music students whose families make more than $110k.

Read more about Music at Columbia

Switch to a More Focused Major

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.

Featured Performing Arts Schools

Find Schools Near You