2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2019-2020, 27,047 people earned their degree in music, making the major the 40th most popular in the United States. 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.
At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 15,839 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking analyzed 642 colleges that offered 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
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 for a Bachelor’s” 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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s
The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree music students.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music
Out of the 642 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #1 spot on the list. BYU is located in Provo, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 68 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on this list, BYU is in the top on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Brigham Young University - Provo is $13,322 for bachelor’s degree music students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend West Texas A&M University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s. West Texas A&M University is a public institution located in Canyon, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 51 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
West Texas A&M University also claimed a top spot on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. It costs about $12,761 for bachelor’s degree music students per year to attend West Texas A&M University.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Brigham Young University - Idaho is located in Rexburg, Idaho and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 37 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for BYU - I is $7,167 for Bachelor’s Degree Music students.
The low student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%.
Out of the 642 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is located in Fargo, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.
North Dakota State University excels when it comes to music quality. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus is $16,584 for bachelor’s degree music students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s. Whitewater, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, UW - Whitewater is in the top on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $15,249 for bachelor’s degree music students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Truman State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Kirksville, Missouri, this small public school handed out 23 degrees to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, Truman State is in the top on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend Truman State University is $12,462 for Bachelor’s Degree Music students.
The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
With a ranking of #7, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s list. UT Rio Grande Valley is a large public school situated in Edinburg, Texas. It awarded 39 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
UT Rio Grande Valley also claimed a top spot on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $4,514 for Bachelor’s Degree Music students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #8, University of Wisconsin - Platteville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s list. UW - Platteville is located in Platteville, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.
On top of its placing in this ranking, UW - Platteville also did well on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Platteville is $15,718 for Bachelor’s Degree Music students.
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. SRU is a public institution located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, SRU also did well on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. It costs about $19,926 for bachelor’s degree music students per year to attend SRU.
Read full report on Music at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #10. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - La Crosse is also in the top of our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - La Crosse is $14,580 for bachelor’s degree music students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. UW - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 44 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.
UW - Eau Claire excels when it comes to music quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $16,020 for Bachelor’s Degree Music students.
South Dakota State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #12. South Dakota State is located in Brookings, South Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $19,252 for Bachelor’s Degree Music students per year to attend South Dakota State.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Winona State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Winona State University is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.
Winona State also claimed a top spot on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State is $17,656 for Bachelor’s Degree Music students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. This small school is located in San Juan, , and it awarded 35 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $5,733 for Bachelor’s Degree Music students per year to attend Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Western Illinois University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. WIU is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois. It awarded 38 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $16,210 for bachelor’s degree music students per year to attend WIU.
With a ranking of #16, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s list. This medium-sized school is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $14,395 for Bachelor’s Degree Music students.
Western Carolina University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. This fairly large school is located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, and it awarded 33 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Western Carolina University is $13,722 for bachelor’s degree music students.
Bemidji State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #18. Bemidji, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Bemidji State University is $15,868 for Bachelor’s Degree Music students.
University of South Dakota ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Vermillion, South Dakota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend USD is $18,555 for bachelor’s degree music students.
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%.
Eastern Illinois University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Charleston, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Eastern Illinois University is $14,607 for Bachelor’s Degree Music students.
Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Southwest Minnesota State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Marshall, Minnesota. It awarded 1 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $14,397 for bachelor’s degree music students per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.
Read more about Music at Southwest Minnesota State University
University of Nebraska at Kearney came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. University of Nebraska at Kearney is a public institution located in Kearney, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $16,017 for bachelor’s degree music students per year to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney.
The low 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%.
Read full report on Music at University of Nebraska at Kearney
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #23. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a fairly large school located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin that handed out 9 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $15,463 for Bachelor’s Degree Music students per year to attend UW Oshkosh.
University of Houston did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #24. University of Houston is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 66 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, UH also did well on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. It costs about $12,838 for bachelor’s degree music students per year to attend UH.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
University of North Dakota ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for UND is $15,738 for Bachelor’s Degree Music students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s
While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | University of Minnesota - Morris | Morris, MN |
| 52 | Westfield State University | Westfield, MA |
| 53 | Texas State University | San Marcos, TX |
| 54 | University of Wyoming | Laramie, WY |
| 55 | University of Central Oklahoma | Edmond, OK |
| 56 | Illinois State University | Normal, IL |
| 57 | Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus | Portales, NM |
| 58 | Youngstown State University | Youngstown, OH |
| 59 | Nicholls State University | Thibodaux, LA |
| 60 | Lee University | Cleveland, TN |
| 61 | Minnesota State University - Moorhead | Moorhead, MN |
| 62 | Texas A&M International University | Laredo, TX |
| 63 | McNeese State University | Lake Charles, LA |
| 64 | Texas Woman’s University | Denton, TX |
| 65 | SUNY Fredonia | Fredonia, NY |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | California University of Pennsylvania | California, PA |
| 92 | Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater, MA |
| 93 | Texas A&M University - Kingsville | Kingsville, TX |
| 94 | Arkansas State University - Main Campus | Jonesboro, AR |
| 95 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo, CA |
| 96 | Southern Illinois University Carbondale | Carbondale, IL |
| 97 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville, PA |
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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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