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

18 Ranked Colleges
223 Degrees Awarded
$18,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor's in Minnesota

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 Minnesota, there were 307 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $23,920 and $23,603 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 223 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,526 and $26,035 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota” ranking looked at 18 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music in Minnesota

#1

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Winona State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota. Winona State is a public institution located in Winona, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Winona State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State is $17,656 for Minnesota 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%.

Read full report on Music at Winona State University

#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota list. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large public school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 4 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Minnesota State Mankato, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $16,221 for minnesota bachelor’s degree music students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Minnesota State University - Mankato Music Report

#3

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Cloud State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota list. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 10 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University also made our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend St. Cloud State University is $14,267 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

Read full report on Music at Saint Cloud State University

#11 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, Minnesota State University - Moorhead landed the #4 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Moorhead, Minnesota, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU Moorhead not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. It costs about $16,893 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Music students per year to attend MSU Moorhead.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at Minnesota State University - Moorhead

#5

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, Bemidji State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Bemidji, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.

Bemidji State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bemidji State University is $15,868 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

Read more about Music at Bemidji State University

#9 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking. UMN Duluth is a fairly large public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 13 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also made our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $17,067 for minnesota bachelor’s degree music students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 UMN Duluth Music Report

#16 in overall quality

Southwest Minnesota State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking. Marshall, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Southwest Minnesota State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. The yearly cost to attend Southwest Minnesota State University is $14,397 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

Full Southwest Minnesota State University Music Report

#8

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school handed out 32 degrees to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. It costs about $17,740 for minnesota bachelor’s degree music students per year to attend UMN Twin Cities.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Music at UMN Twin Cities

#14 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Morris did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #9. University of Minnesota - Morris is located in Morris, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

UMN Morris also took the #14 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Morris is $11,412 for minnesota 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%.

Read more about Music at University of Minnesota - Morris

#10

North Central University

Minneapolis, Minnesota

With a ranking of #10, North Central University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

North Central University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. The yearly cost to attend North Central University is $21,142 for minnesota bachelor’s degree music students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 more about Music at North Central University

#11

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#18 in overall quality

Concordia University, Saint Paul did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #11. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Concordia University, Saint Paul not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Saint Paul is $16,245 for minnesota bachelor’s degree music students.

Full Concordia University, Saint Paul Music Report

#12

University of Northwestern - St Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota

University of Northwestern - St Paul ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota list. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s music degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. It costs about $21,871 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Music students per year to attend University of Northwestern - St Paul.

The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.

Full University of Northwestern - St Paul Music Report

#13

Concordia College at Moorhead

Moorhead, Minnesota

Concordia College at Moorhead landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking. Located in Moorhead, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 12 degrees to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.

Concordia College Moorhead also took the #2 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia College Moorhead is $23,029 for minnesota bachelor’s degree music students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Read more about Music at Concordia College Moorhead

#17 in overall quality

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #14. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 3 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

SMU MN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. The yearly cost to attend Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is $19,514 for minnesota bachelor’s degree music students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

#15

Hamline University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Hamline University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota list. Hamline University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 6 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Hamline also took the #3 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Hamline is $20,866 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at Hamline University

#16

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota

Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota list. This small school is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Gustavus Adolphus, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. It costs about $19,093 for minnesota bachelor’s degree music students per year to attend Gustavus Adolphus.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Gustavus Adolphus Music Report

#17

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota

With a ranking of #17, St Olaf College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota list. Located in Northfield, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 50 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.

St. Olaf also took the #1 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St Olaf College is $23,543 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Music students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Music at St Olaf College

#18

Carleton College

Northfield, Minnesota
#6 in overall quality

Carleton College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota list. Located in Northfield, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.

Carleton also took the #6 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Carleton is $31,133 for minnesota bachelor’s degree music students.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Carleton College Music Report

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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