2027 Best Value Music Master’s Degree Schools
[Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 152 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music students.
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2027 Best Value Music Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Music Schools
Cuny Brooklyn College tops our 2027 list of the best value music schools in the United States. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,452, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Students borrow a median of $13,303 to complete the music program here. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $16,996. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in music will find it at California State University Northridge, which ranked #2. 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. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $37,985. That is a strong return on a $15,933 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Los Angeles earned it the #3 place for music. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,164 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Set against $12,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny City College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music, landing the #4 spot 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, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Typical student debt for music graduates is $20,000. Music graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $19,145 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Queens College earned it the #5 place for music. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,538, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. Typical student debt for music graduates is $12,157. Music graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $27,902 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,157 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Florida International University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value music schools. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Students borrow a median of $14,882 to complete the music program here. Music graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $29,478 early in their careers. Set against $14,882 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
California State University Fullerton ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value music schools. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Typical student debt for music graduates is $20,469. Music graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $23,969 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
California State University Sacramento landed the #8 spot for music value this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,018 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,618. Typical student debt for music graduates is $16,500. Music graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $25,391 early in their careers. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Sacramento admits about 94% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At El Paso earned the #9 position for value in music this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Music graduates carry a median of $14,612 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from The University Of Texas At El Paso generally make around $56,062. That is a strong return on a $14,612 median debt. The University Of Texas At El Paso admits about 100% of applicants.
Florida State University landed the #10 spot for music value this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Music graduates carry a median of $23,992 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $26,016. That is a strong return on a $23,992 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #11 spot for music value this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for music graduates is $21,829. Music graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $52,885 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Lamar University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value music schools. Lamar University is a very large public school located in the city of Beaumont. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,905, compared with $18,745 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,407 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $42,328. That is a strong return on a $26,407 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Southern Utah University landed the #13 spot for music value this year. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,962, while out-of-state students pay about $21,192. Students borrow a median of $12,886 to complete the music program here. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Southern Utah University generally make around $44,998. That is a strong return on a $12,886 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
California State University Long Beach earned the #14 position for value in music this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Music graduates carry a median of $20,550 in student loans. Music graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $25,480 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Stanford University came in at #15 for value in music this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $100,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value music schools. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Typical student debt for music graduates is $26,000. Music graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $29,507 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
San Jose State University came in at #17 for value in music this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. San Jose State University admits about 85% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio landed the #18 spot for music value this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,326 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Music graduates carry a median of $24,570 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $47,010. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #19 spot for music value this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Music graduates carry a median of $23,119 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $15,520. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #20 spot for music value this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for music graduates is $19,397. Early-career music graduates make about $16,971. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas placed #21 among the best values for music. Set in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,748 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,411. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $47,151. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus landed the #22 spot for music value this year. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,772, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music graduates is $17,250. Early-career music graduates make about $38,029. Set against $17,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Mississippi Main Campus admits about 97% of applicants.
Austin Peay State University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value music schools. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,006, while out-of-state students pay about $14,766. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the music program here. Music graduates of Austin Peay State University earn a median of $39,008 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Austin Peay State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Rice University earned the #24 position for value in music this year. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $30,454. That is a strong return on a $11,904 median debt. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
University Of Memphis ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value music schools. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music graduates is $22,060. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $47,417. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Music Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for music this year:
Other Music Degree Levels
Explore the best-value music schools at other degree levels:
View All Music Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 152 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 152 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
