[Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 351 schools to find the best return on investment for music students.
University Of Florida earned the #1 spot for value among music schools in the United States. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for music graduates is $17,669. Early-career music graduates make about $22,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in music will find it at Cuny Brooklyn College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,452, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Students borrow a median of $13,303 to complete the music program here. Music graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $16,996 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas Pan American one of the best values for music. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,920 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $56,373. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
Cuny Hunter College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value music schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Typical student debt for music graduates is $11,091. Early-career music graduates make about $33,384. That is a strong return on a $11,091 median debt. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Students looking for strong value in music will find it at California State University Los Angeles, which ranked #5. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Typical student debt for music graduates is $12,500. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $21,509. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Cuny City College came in at #6 for value in music this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Typical student debt for music graduates is $20,000. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $19,145. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
California State University San Bernardino landed the #7 spot for music value this year. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,088, while out-of-state students pay about $20,688. Music graduates carry a median of $15,149 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino generally make around $27,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Fullerton placed #8 among the best values for music. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Music graduates carry a median of $20,469 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $23,969. Set against $20,469 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
Texas A And M International University placed #9 among the best values for music. Set in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,894, while out-of-state students pay about $19,454. Typical student debt for music graduates is $15,095. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Texas A And M International University generally make around $20,788. That is a strong return on a $15,095 median debt. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Northridge placed #10 among the best values for music. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,458, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Music graduates carry a median of $15,933 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $18,226. That is a strong return on a $15,933 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
California State University Stanislaus earned the #11 position for value in music this year. California State University Stanislaus is a large public school located in the suburb of Turlock. Students from in state pay about $8,242 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,842. Typical student debt for music graduates is $14,813. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from California State University Stanislaus generally make around $46,807. Set against $14,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Utah Valley University came in at #12 for value in music this year. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Typical student debt for music graduates is $16,478. Music graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $24,952 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Bakersfield earned the #13 position for value in music this year. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,087, with out-of-state students paying around $20,687. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,009. The acceptance rate is 94%.
California State University Fresno earned the #14 position for value in music this year. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,341, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Music graduates carry a median of $15,598 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $49,502. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Florida International University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value music schools. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Typical student debt for music graduates is $14,882. Early-career music graduates make about $25,484. That is a strong return on a $14,882 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
California State University East Bay earned the #16 position for value in music this year. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. Students from in state pay about $7,583 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,183 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,073 to complete the music program here. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $58,951. That is a strong return on a $18,073 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
California State University Dominguez Hills landed the #17 spot for music value this year. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,454 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,054. Students borrow a median of $15,886 to complete the music program here. Music graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $52,683 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Dominguez Hills admits about 93% of applicants.
California State University Sacramento placed #18 among the best values for music. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,018, with out-of-state students paying around $20,618. Music graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $25,391. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Sacramento admits about 94% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At El Paso placed #19 among the best values for music. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,544, compared with $25,502 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music graduates is $14,612. Early-career music graduates make about $56,062. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #20 position for value in music this year. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Music graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $32,880. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 15%.
Florida Atlantic University placed #21 among the best values for music. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Music graduates carry a median of $20,212 in student loans. Music graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $49,340 early in their careers. Set against $20,212 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #22 among the best values for music. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for music graduates is $21,829. Early-career music graduates make about $52,885. Set against $21,829 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Snow College landed the #23 spot for music value this year. Snow College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Ephraim. In-state tuition and fees average $4,338, while out-of-state students pay about $14,288. Students borrow a median of $10,440 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $42,776. Set against $10,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Central Florida ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value music schools. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Music graduates carry a median of $20,567 in student loans. Music graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $21,957 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,567 median debt. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned the #25 position for value in music this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. Music graduates carry a median of $24,570 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $47,010. Set against $24,570 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Music Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s music value ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 351 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 351 ranked schools only.
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).
[Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
