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2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid

25 Ranked Colleges
526 Degrees Awarded
$27,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Music Schools for a Master's in California For Those Getting Aid

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 for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this 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 California, there were 3,681 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $20,710 and $32,646 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 526 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 25 colleges that offer a degree in music. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality music programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the music program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid”.

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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music in California (With Aid)

#19 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Los Angeles. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Cal State LA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 16 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #19. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Music Report

#2

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 14 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford also took the #1 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011.

Read full report on Music at Stanford

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #3 spot on the list. University of California - Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree music students with aid list, UC Irvine has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music at UC Irvine

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Northridge. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Northridge, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music degrees to 56 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree music students with aid list, CSUN has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955.

Read full report on Music at CSUN

#16 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fullerton. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Cal State Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 21 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music at California State University - Fullerton

California State University - Fresno landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Fresno is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s music degrees to qualified students.

Fresno State also took the #23 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581.

Full California State University - Fresno Music Report

#7

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 26 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Music at University of California - Los Angeles

With a ranking of #8, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school handed out 32 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree music students with aid list, CSULB has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music at CSULB

#9

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#11 in overall quality

San Diego State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. SDSU is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 13 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music at SDSU

#10

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#13 in overall quality

San Jose State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. San Jose State University is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree music students with aid list, San Jose State has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music at San Jose State University

#21 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.

Sac State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Sacramento Music Report

#12

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#9 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

UCSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music at University of California - Santa Barbara

California State University - East Bay came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Hayward, California, this fairly large public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree music students with aid list, Cal State East Bay has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State East Bay are $17,828.

Read more about Music at Cal State East Bay

#14

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California

University of California - Riverside landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. UCR is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s music degrees to qualified students.

UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCR are $28,686, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Riverside Music Report

#15

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
#6 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 4 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Music at University of California - Berkeley

#12 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of California - San Diego is a large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 4 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631.

Read more about Music at UCSD

#17

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#20 in overall quality

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school handed out 13 degrees to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.

SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full San Francisco State University Music Report

#18

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#18 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. University of California - Santa Cruz is a fairly large school located in Santa Cruz, California that handed out 4 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UC Santa Cruz Music Report

#19

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California
#10 in overall quality

Azusa Pacific University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Azusa, California, and it awarded 28 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree music students with aid list, Azusa Pacific has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Azusa Pacific University are $16,571.

Full Azusa Pacific University Music Report

#20

University of Redlands

Redlands, California
#8 in overall quality

University of Redlands did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Redlands, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 15 degrees to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.

University of Redlands also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Redlands are $22,852, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Redlands Music Report

#21

Mills College

Oakland, California

Mills College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. Mills is a private not-for-profit institution located in Oakland, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mills, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Mills College are $36,263.

Read more about Music at Mills College

#22

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 81 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Music at University of Southern California

#23

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

San Francisco, California

San Francisco Conservatory of Music did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. SFCM is located in San Francisco, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 81 masters’s music degrees to qualified students.

SFCM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco Conservatory of Music are $49,050.

Read more about Music at SFCM

#24

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 16 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Academy of Art University also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #22. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Academy of Art University are $27,688.

Read full report on Music at Academy of Art University

#25

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, California

California Institute of the Arts did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. CalArts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Valencia, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 35 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CalArts, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CalArts are $53,466, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music at California Institute of the Arts

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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