2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music in the Great Lakes Region
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.
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 Great Lakes region, there were 4,025 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $25,684 and $28,070 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,125 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 37 colleges that offered a degree in music. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great music programs and cost less that 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college 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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 37 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school handed out 25 degrees to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree music students list, Illinois State has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Bowling Green, Ohio that handed out 58 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
BGSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at BGSU are $15,823.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia College Chicago. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s music degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $2,350.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 masters’s music degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Illinois University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 13 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
WIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at WIU are $11,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Northern Illinois University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 29 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
NIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Youngstown State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Youngstown, Ohio, and it awarded 10 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Youngstown State University are $9,495.
North Park University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 4 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
North Park also took the #23 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at North Park University are $14,076, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Central Michigan University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 11 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
Central Michigan also took the #16 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 19 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523.
Ohio University - Athens Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Athens, Ohio, this large public school awarded 33 degrees to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
OHIO Athens did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio University - Athens Campus are $17,712, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 132 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
UC also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus are $26,644, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #13, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree music students list, EIU has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Akron Main Campus landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Akron, Ohio that handed out 15 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217, but some majors have different tuition rates.
DePaul University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. DePaul University is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 40 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree music students list, DePaul has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul University are $19,760, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 47 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Music Report
With a ranking of #17, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Kent, Ohio, this large public school awarded 31 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
Kent State also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State University at Kent are $21,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #18, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern Illinois University are $17,032, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school awarded 193 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree music students list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338.
Read full report on Music at Indiana University - Bloomington
With a ranking of #20, Roosevelt University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 23 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
Roosevelt also took the #18 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Roosevelt are $21,605, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 32 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UWM, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295.
Oakland University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Oakland, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Oakland are $24,648.
With a ranking of #23, Western Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 21 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree music students list, WMU has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Western Michigan University are $31,355.
Ball State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Muncie, Indiana 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.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ball State, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State University are $26,204, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. Michigan State is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 49 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.
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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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