2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music 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 Master’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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 651 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,319 and $48,880 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking analyzed 34 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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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 Master’s in the Far Western US Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for far western us region master’s degree music students.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music in the Far Western US Region
Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Azusa Pacific University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Azusa, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 28 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
Azusa Pacific not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Azusa Pacific are $16,571, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Nevada - Las Vegas landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Nevada - Las Vegas is a large public school situated in Las Vegas, Nevada. It awarded 10 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree music students list, UNLV has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nevada - Las Vegas are $21,962.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school handed out 56 degrees to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree music students list, CSUN has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
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 Master’s in the Far Western US Region. California State University - Long Beach is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 32 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Redlands. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region. Located in Redlands, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 15 degrees to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
University of Redlands also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #11. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Redlands are $22,852.
Central Washington University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Ellensburg, Washington, this fairly large public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CWU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Washington University are $24,976, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #7, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree music students list, Cal State Fullerton has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892.
With a ranking of #8, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 13 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658.
With a ranking of #9, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. San Jose State University is a large public school situated in San Jose, California. It awarded 9 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790.
University of California - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 26 degrees to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131.
With a ranking of #11, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 13 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.
California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #12. California State University - Los Angeles is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 16 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree music students list, Cal State LA has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school awarded 19 degrees to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
UW Seattle not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294.
Read more about Music at University of Washington - Seattle Campus
University of Oregon did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #14. UO is a large school located in Eugene, Oregon that handed out 24 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UO, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UO are $29,991, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Nevada - Reno came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Reno, Nevada is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nevada - Reno are $21,971, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
California State University - Fresno ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. California State University - Fresno is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 7 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #17, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school handed out 5 degrees to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.
California State University - Sacramento came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 6 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. UCSB is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s music degrees to qualified students.
UCSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Portland State University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Portland, Oregon, this large public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Portland State University are $23,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Western Oregon University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #21. Western Oregon University is a small school located in Monmouth, Oregon that handed out 4 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Oregon State College are $28,518, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of California - San Diego landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school awarded 4 degrees to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
UCSD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Washington State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Pullman, Washington, this large public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Wazzu are $27,561, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Southern Oregon University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Ashland, Oregon, and it awarded 8 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Oregon University are $23,445, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of California - Berkeley came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Berkeley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347.
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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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