2023 Best Value Colleges for Music in California (With Aid)
38
Ranked Colleges
3,612
Degrees Awarded
$12,100
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Music is the 43rd most popular major in the country with 25,910 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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 California, there were 3,612 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $23,084 and $22,049 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 38 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.
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.
More Ways to Rank Music Schools
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 California For Those Getting Aid” 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 California For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Music in California (With Aid)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 57 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,302 for california music students with aid per year to attend Cal State LA.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.
Full Cal State LA Music Report
Out of the 38 schools in the Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #2 spot on the list. UCLA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 114 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Music Schools in California” list. It costs about $15,023 for California Music students with aid per year to attend University of California - Los Angeles.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Full UCLA Music Report
Out of the 38 schools in the Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fullerton landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 89 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal State Fullerton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Music Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cal State Fullerton is $8,003 for California Music students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music at California State University - Fullerton
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Long Beach is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 129 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
CSULB also made our “Best Music Schools in California” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $10,054 for California Music students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music at California State University - Long Beach
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Northridge is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 174 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
CSUN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Music Schools in California” list. It costs about $8,523 for california music students with aid per year to attend California State University - Northridge.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music at California State University - Northridge
With a ranking of #6, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Fresno is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 52 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,230 for California Music students with aid per year to attend California State University - Fresno.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Music at Fresno State
University of California - Irvine landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of California - Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 42 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Irvine also took the #5 spot in our “Best Music Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $12,209 for California Music students with aid per year to attend University of California - Irvine.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Music at University of California - Irvine
With a ranking of #8, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 54 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our california music students with aid list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Music Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Berkeley is $16,032 for california music students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 UC Berkeley Music Report
California State University - Sacramento ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Sac State is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 56 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Sac State, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Music Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $11,178 for California Music students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Sac State
University of California - San Diego came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. UCSD is a public institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UCSD also took the #7 spot in our “Best Music Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - San Diego is $15,240 for California Music students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Music at University of California - San Diego
With a ranking of #11, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in San Bernardino, California, this fairly large public school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend CSUSB is $8,107 for california music students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - San Bernardino Music Report
San Jose State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Jose State University is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 52 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Music Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend San Jose State is $16,542 for california music students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 San Jose State
University of California - Riverside landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Riverside, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.
UCR also took the #18 spot in our “Best Music Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Riverside is $11,822 for california music students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 California - Riverside
California State University - Stanislaus landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Stan State is a fairly large public school situated in Turlock, California. It awarded 20 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Stan State is $6,566 for california music students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 full report on Music at California State University - Stanislaus
California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Carson, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Dominguez Hills is $4,026 for California Music students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Music at CSUDH
San Diego State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. SDSU is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 71 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
SDSU also took the #14 spot in our “Best Music Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Diego State University is $13,845 for california music students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Full San Diego State University Music Report
University of California - Davis came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of California - Davis is a large school located in Davis, California that handed out 21 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Davis also took the #10 spot in our “Best Music Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Davis is $15,768 for california music students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Music at University of California - Davis
California State University - East Bay landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Hayward, California, and it awarded 22 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Cal State East Bay is $13,298 for california music students with aid.
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%.
Read full report on Music at California State University - East Bay
University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 38 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
UCSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Music Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Santa Barbara is $16,252 for california music students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 UCSB Music Report
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Cal Poly Pomona is a large public school situated in Pomona, California. It awarded 39 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal Poly Pomona also took the #24 spot in our “Best Music Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,304 for California Music students with aid per year to attend Cal Poly Pomona.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, 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 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Music Report
San Francisco State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Francisco State University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our california music students with aid list, SFSU has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Music Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,459 for california music students with aid per year to attend SFSU.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 San Francisco State University Music Report
California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. Chico State is a fairly large school located in Chico, California that handed out 48 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.
Chico State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Music Schools in California” list. It costs about $16,218 for california music students with aid per year to attend California State University - Chico.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%.
Read more about Music at Chico State
University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school handed out 25 degrees to qualified ’s music students in 2020-2021.
UC Santa Cruz also made our “Best Music Schools in California” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for UC Santa Cruz is $17,930 for California Music students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of California - Santa Cruz Music Report
California State University - San Marcos did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. CSUSM is located in San Marcos, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - San Marcos is $13,218 for California Music students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music at California State University - San Marcos
California State University - Monterey Bay did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. California State University - Monterey Bay is a public institution located in Seaside, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for CSUMB is $13,597 for California Music students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music at California State University - Monterey Bay
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