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2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region

80 Ranked Colleges
2,059 Degrees Awarded
$12,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor's in the Far Western US Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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.

Across the Far Western US region, there were 4,534 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $21,228 and $32,045 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,059 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,083 and $22,209 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking looked at 80 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. 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 for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music in the Far Western US Region

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. California State University - Northridge is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 125 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend CSUN is $8,414 for far western us region bachelor’s degree music students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 CSUN

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, this large public school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo also made our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is $21,595 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national 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 more about Music at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

Out of the 80 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Nevada - Las Vegas landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Nevada - Las Vegas is a large public school situated in Las Vegas, Nevada. It awarded 25 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

UNLV also made our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend University of Nevada - Las Vegas is $11,424 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

Read more about Music at University of Nevada - Las Vegas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region. CSULB is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 113 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for CSULB is $9,622 for far western us region bachelor’s degree music students.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Music at CSULB

Out of the 80 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school awarded 28 degrees to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Fresno State is $5,464 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Music at California State University - Fresno

#6

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

With a ranking of #6, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. San Jose State is located in San Jose, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 44 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

San Jose State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State is $14,928 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Music at San Jose State University

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Pomona, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 60 students in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly Pomona did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $12,734 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students per year to attend California State Polytechnic University - Pomona.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

With a ranking of #8, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. California State University - Chico is a fairly large public school situated in Chico, California. It awarded 44 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,017 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students per year to attend California State University - Chico.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Chico Music Report

#9

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, California

Sonoma State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. Sonoma State University is located in Rohnert Park, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for SSU is $17,478 for far western us region bachelor’s degree music students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at SSU

California State University - East Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #10. Cal State East Bay is a fairly large public school situated in Hayward, California. It awarded 14 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for California State University - East Bay is $11,116 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

Full Cal State East Bay Music Report

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #11. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 67 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,991 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students per year to attend California State University - Fullerton.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.

Full California State University - Fullerton Music Report

With a ranking of #12, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. CSUSM is a public institution located in San Marcos, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,399 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students per year to attend California State University - San Marcos.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full CSUSM Music Report

#13

Western Washington University

Bellingham, Washington

Western Washington University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Western Washington University is a fairly large public school situated in Bellingham, Washington. It awarded 26 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $16,529 for far western us region bachelor’s degree music students per year to attend WWU.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at WWU

University of Nevada - Reno did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #14. UNR is located in Reno, Nevada and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $15,081 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students per year to attend University of Nevada - Reno.

Full University of Nevada - Reno Music Report

California State University - Los Angeles ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. Cal State LA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $2,768 for far western us region bachelor’s degree music students per year to attend Cal State LA.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Music Report

#16

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

With a ranking of #16, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 63 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend SDSU is $14,788 for far western us region bachelor’s degree music students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Music at San Diego State University

#17

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. SFSU is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend San Francisco State University is $15,113 for far western us region bachelor’s degree music students.

Read more about Music at SFSU

#18

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

With a ranking of #18, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. CSUSB is a public institution located in San Bernardino, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,342 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students per year to attend California State University - San Bernardino.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Music at CSUSB

California State University - Sacramento came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. California State University - Sacramento is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 32 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $9,979 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.6% 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%.

Read more about Music at California State University - Sacramento

#20

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, Washington

With a ranking of #20, Central Washington University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. Central Washington University is a public institution located in Ellensburg, Washington. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,397 for far western us region bachelor’s degree music students per year to attend Central Washington University.

Full CWU Music Report

California State University - Monterey Bay came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. California State University - Monterey Bay is located in Seaside, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $12,212 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students per year to attend CSUMB.

The low student loan default rate of 5.0% 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%.

Full California State University - Monterey Bay Music Report

University of Hawaii at Hilo ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. Hilo, Hawaii is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UH Hilo is $13,885 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

Read full report on Music at UH Hilo

#23

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington

Washington State University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Wazzu is a public institution located in Pullman, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $16,358 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students per year to attend Washington State University.

The low student loan default rate of 4.6% 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%.

Read full report on Music at Wazzu

#24

Cogswell College

San Jose, California

Cogswell College landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. This small school is located in San Jose, California, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Cogswell College is $29,566 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

Full Cogswell Music Report

California State University - Dominguez Hills came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. CSUDH is a fairly large school located in Carson, California that handed out 15 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $4,215 for far western us region bachelor’s degree music students per year to attend CSUDH.

The low student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.

Read more about Music at CSUDH

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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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