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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music in Tennessee (With Aid)

20 Ranked Colleges
551 Degrees Awarded
$18,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor's in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Music is the 40th most popular major in the country with 27,047 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 Tennessee, there were 745 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $26,471 and $26,504 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 551 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 20 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Music Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for tennessee bachelor’s degree music students with aid.

Top 20 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music in Tennessee (With Aid)

#1

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Middle Tennessee State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and it awarded 98 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Middle Tennessee State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Middle Tennessee State University is $12,464 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Music students with aid.

Read more about Music at Middle Tennessee State University

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Tennessee - Martin. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid list. UT Martin is located in Martin, Tennessee and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

UT Martin also took the #12 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Tennessee - Martin is $10,955 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Music students with aid.

Full The University of Tennessee - Martin Music Report

#3

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Tennessee Technological University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid list. Tennessee Technological University is a public institution located in Cookeville, Tennessee. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tennessee Tech University, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Tennessee Tech University is $15,929 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Music students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.

Read more about Music at Tennessee Tech University

#4

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #4 spot on the list. This small school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

TNU also made our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend Trevecca Nazarene University is $17,499 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Music students with aid.

Read full report on Music at TNU

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid. This fairly large school is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree music students with aid list, UT Chattanooga has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UT Chattanooga is $12,952 for tennessee bachelor’s degree music students with aid.

Read full report on Music at The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga

#6

Tennessee State University

Nashville, Tennessee

Tennessee State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Tennessee State University is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tennessee State University, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Tennessee State University is $12,443 for tennessee bachelor’s degree music students with aid.

Full Tennessee State University Music Report

#7

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee

With a ranking of #7, Vanderbilt University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid list. Vanderbilt is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 50 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

Vanderbilt not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $19,432 for tennessee bachelor’s degree music students with aid per year to attend Vanderbilt University.

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. 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read more about Music at Vanderbilt

#8

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee

With a ranking of #8, University of Memphis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, this large public school awarded 38 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.

UofM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Memphis is $13,248 for tennessee bachelor’s degree music students with aid.

Full University of Memphis Music Report

#9

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee

Austin Peay State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid ranking. Austin Peay State University is located in Clarksville, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

Austin Peay State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Austin Peay State University is $13,692 for tennessee bachelor’s degree music students with aid.

Read full report on Music at Austin Peay State University

#10

Lee University

Cleveland, Tennessee

Lee University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid list. Lee University is located in Cleveland, Tennessee and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lee University, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lee University is $17,696 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Music students with aid.

Read more about Music at Lee University

#11

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee

East Tennessee State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. East Tennessee State University is a fairly large public school situated in Johnson City, Tennessee. It awarded 27 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

ETSU also made our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend East Tennessee State University is $14,332 for tennessee bachelor’s degree music students with aid.

Read more about Music at East Tennessee State University

#12

Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson, Tennessee
#13 in overall quality

Freed-Hardeman University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid ranking. Freed-Hardeman University is located in Henderson, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at FHU, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for FHU is $16,703 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Music students with aid.

Read more about Music at FHU

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid list. Knoxville, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 34 students in 2019-2020.

UT Knoxville also made our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for UT Knoxville is $18,825 for tennessee bachelor’s degree music students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

#14

Rhodes College

Memphis, Tennessee
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Rhodes College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Rhodes College also made our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Rhodes College is $27,540 for tennessee bachelor’s degree music students with aid.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Music at Rhodes College

#15

Milligan University

Milligan College, Tennessee
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Milligan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Milligan College, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 degrees to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.

Milligan also took the #18 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Milligan is $19,806 for tennessee bachelor’s degree music students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Milligan University Music Report

#16

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee

Union University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid ranking. Union University is located in Jackson, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Union, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Union is $28,249 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Music students with aid.

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 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full Union Music Report

#17

Lipscomb University

Nashville, Tennessee
#10 in overall quality

Lipscomb University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid list. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

Lipscomb did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Lipscomb is $24,749 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Music students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Lipscomb University Music Report

#18

Belmont University

Nashville, Tennessee

Belmont University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid ranking. Belmont is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 107 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

Belmont did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Belmont University is $35,548 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Music students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music at Belmont University

#19

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, Tennessee
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Southern Adventist University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Collegedale, Tennessee, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southern Adventist, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $22,661 for tennessee bachelor’s degree music students with aid per year to attend Southern Adventist.

Full Southern Adventist Music Report

#20

Visible Music College

Memphis, Tennessee

Visible Music College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree music students with aid list, Visible Music College has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Visible Music College is $22,807 for tennessee bachelor’s degree music students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Music at Visible Music College

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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