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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music in the Southwest Region (With Aid)

28 Ranked Colleges
672 Degrees Awarded
$20,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Music Schools for a Master's in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region 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 the Southwest region, there were 2,964 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,126 and $28,647 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 672 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,078 and $37,227 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 28 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons 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 for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region master’s degree music students with aid.

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

#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. UT Rio Grande Valley is located in Edinburg, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s music degrees to qualified students.

UT Rio Grande Valley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are $15,151.

Read more about Music at UT Rio Grande Valley

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at El Paso. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. UTEP is a public institution located in El Paso, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UTEP also took the #19 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UTEP are $16,180, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Music at The University of Texas at El Paso

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. UTSA is located in San Antonio, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s music degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UTSA, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UTSA are $25,807, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UTSA Music Report

Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas Woman’s University landed the #4 spot on the list. Texas Woman’s University is a fairly large public school situated in Denton, Texas. It awarded 19 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

TWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at TWU are $14,962.

Read full report on Music at Texas Woman’s University

#5

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas

Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Sam Houston State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Huntsville, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SHSU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SHSU are $15,704, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Sam Houston State University Music Report

The University of Texas at Austin came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 39 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Austin, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Music at The University of Texas at Austin

#7

Rice University

Houston, Texas

Rice University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Rice University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 57 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Rice did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Rice University are $47,913.

Read full report on Music at Rice University

West Texas A&M University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. West Texas A&M University is a public institution located in Canyon, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

West Texas A&M University also took the #0 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at West Texas A&M University are $8,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music at West Texas A&M University

With a ranking of #9, Texas A&M University - Kingsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Kingsville, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas A&M Kingsville, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M Kingsville are $14,066, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music at Texas A&M University - Kingsville

With a ranking of #10, Stephen F Austin State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. SFASU is a fairly large school located in Nacogdoches, Texas that handed out 23 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

SFASU also took the #22 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFASU are $15,695, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music at Stephen F Austin State University

#11

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas

University of North Texas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Denton, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music degrees to 98 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree music students with aid list, UNT has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNT are $15,618, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music at UNT

#12

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Texas State is a public institution located in San Marcos, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 26 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas State also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas State University are $17,040, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music at Texas State

#13

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school awarded 21 degrees to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #9. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Tech are $17,530.

Read full report on Music at Texas Tech University

#17 in overall quality

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Stillwater, Oklahoma. It awarded 10 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at OSU are $23,963, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

With a ranking of #15, Texas A&M University - Commerce did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Commerce, Texas, and it awarded 18 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Commerce also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #20. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M University - Commerce are $14,549, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music at Texas A&M University - Commerce

#16

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Houston, Texas, this large public school awarded 29 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.

UH also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at UH are $18,689, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music at University of Houston

#18 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. UT Arlington is a public institution located in Arlington, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Arlington also took the #18 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Arlington are $23,376, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music at UT Arlington

With a ranking of #18, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 55 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at ASU - Tempe are $27,048.

Read more about Music at ASU - Tempe

#7 in overall quality

University of Central Oklahoma landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UCO is a public institution located in Edmond, Oklahoma. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 28 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCO did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCO are $17,913, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Music at UCO

#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, this fairly large public school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.

NMSU Main Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at New Mexico State University - Main Campus are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music at New Mexico State University - Main Campus

#21

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

With a ranking of #21, University of Arizona did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Tucson, Arizona, this large public school handed out 23 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399.

Read more about Music at University of Arizona

#22

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico

University of New Mexico - Main Campus ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of New Mexico - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It awarded 31 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

UNM also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #24. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNM are $19,890, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music at UNM

#23

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, Northern Arizona University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and it awarded 8 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NAU, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Arizona University are $19,489, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music at Northern Arizona University

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Oklahoma is a large public school situated in Norman, Oklahoma. It awarded 29 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree music students with aid list, University of Oklahoma has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus are $23,236, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

#25

Oklahoma City University

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. Oklahoma City University is a small school located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that handed out 29 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

OCU also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at OCU are $13,410, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music at Oklahoma City University

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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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