Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music in Washington

13 Ranked Colleges
241 Degrees Awarded
$24,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor's in Washington

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 in Washington” 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.

Across Washington, there were 437 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $18,350 and $25,010 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 241 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,202 and $21,977 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Washington” ranking analyzed 13 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the music program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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 Washington” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 Bachelor’s in Washington

The colleges and universities below are the best for washington bachelor’s degree music students.

Top 13 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music in Washington

#1

Western Washington University

Bellingham, Washington

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Washington that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Washington University landed the #1 spot on the list. WWU is a fairly large public school situated in Bellingham, Washington. It awarded 26 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our washington bachelor’s degree music students list, WWU has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Washington University is $16,529 for Washington Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

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%.

Read full report on Music at Western Washington University

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Washington. UW Seattle is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 26 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus is $13,297 for Washington Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%.

Read full report on Music at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

#3

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, Washington

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central Washington University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Washington. Ellensburg, Washington is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 41 students in 2019-2020.

CWU also made our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Central Washington University is $15,397 for Washington Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

Read full report on Music at Central Washington University

#4

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Washington list. Washington State University is located in Pullman, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

Wazzu did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington” list. The yearly cost to attend Wazzu is $16,358 for Washington 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 full report on Music at Washington State University

#5

Eastern Washington University

Cheney, Washington

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Eastern Washington University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Washington list. Eastern Washington University is located in Cheney, Washington and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

EWU also took the #13 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington” ranking. The yearly cost to attend EWU is $12,607 for Washington Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

Full EWU Music Report

#6

Northwest University

Kirkland, Washington

Northwest University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Washington ranking. Kirkland, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

Northwest University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest University is $22,194 for Washington Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Northwest University Music Report

#7

Cornish College of the Arts

Seattle, Washington

Cornish College of the Arts did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Washington ranking, coming in at #7. Cornish College of the Arts is a small school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 17 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornish College of the Arts also took the #12 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington” ranking. It costs about $39,078 for Washington Bachelor’s Degree Music students per year to attend Cornish College of the Arts.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music at Cornish College of the Arts

#8

Pacific Lutheran University

Tacoma, Washington

Pacific Lutheran University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Washington ranking, coming in at #8. PLU is located in Tacoma, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

PLU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington” list. It costs about $23,058 for Washington Bachelor’s Degree Music students per year to attend Pacific Lutheran University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full PLU Music Report

#9

Whitworth University

Spokane, Washington

Whitworth University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Washington ranking, coming in at #9. Whitworth University is located in Spokane, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Whitworth, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington” ranking. It costs about $25,557 for Washington Bachelor’s Degree Music students per year to attend Whitworth University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Whitworth University Music Report

#10

Seattle Pacific University

Seattle, Washington

Seattle Pacific University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Washington list. Seattle Pacific University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 7 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our washington bachelor’s degree music students list, SPU has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Seattle Pacific University is $26,505 for Washington Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at SPU

#11

Seattle University

Seattle, Washington
#3 in overall quality

Seattle University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Washington ranking. Seattle University is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

Seattle U also took the #3 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Seattle U is $34,802 for Washington Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Seattle University Music Report

#12

Whitman College

Walla Walla, Washington
#8 in overall quality

Whitman College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Washington ranking. Whitman College is located in Walla Walla, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

Whitman did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington” list. It costs about $38,672 for Washington Bachelor’s Degree Music students per year to attend Whitman College.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Music at Whitman College

#13

University of Puget Sound

Tacoma, Washington

University of Puget Sound ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Washington list. University of Puget Sound is located in Tacoma, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

Puget Sound not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington” list. It costs about $35,149 for washington bachelor’s degree music students per year to attend University of Puget Sound.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at Puget Sound

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.

Featured Performing Arts Schools

Find Schools Near You