2027 Best Value Music Schools in Pennsylvania
[Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value music schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Music Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Music Schools
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania tops our 2027 list of the best value music schools in Pennsylvania. Set in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,046, compared with $22,870 for out-of-state students. Music graduates carry a median of $27,128 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $31,429. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music, landing the #2 spot this year. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Indiana. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,380, compared with $16,297 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music graduates is $27,956. Music graduates of Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn a median of $41,939 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in music will find it at Community College Of Philadelphia, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,632 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,744 for out-of-state students. Music graduates carry a median of $16,059 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Community College Of Philadelphia generally make around $37,988. That is a strong return on a $16,059 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #4 place for music. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the suburb of West Chester. Students from in state pay about $10,775 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,599. Median earnings reach $61,258 ten years out. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania admits about 78% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Millersville University Of Pennsylvania one of the best values for music. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Millersville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,128, while out-of-state students pay about $22,952. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $26,895. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earned the #6 position for value in music this year. Located in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,206, while out-of-state students pay about $16,330. Typical student debt for music graduates is $27,000. Early-career music graduates make about $17,725. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania admits about 91% of applicants.
Messiah College came in at #7 for value in music this year. Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,240. Students borrow a median of $25,965 to complete the music program here. Music graduates of Messiah College earn a median of $66,109 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Lebanon Valley College earned the #8 position for value in music this year. Located in the suburb of Annville, Lebanon Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $52,080 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,846 to complete the music program here. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Lebanon Valley College generally make around $49,383. Set against $26,846 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Temple University placed #9 among the best values for music. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Music graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $20,667. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Muhlenberg College came in at #10 for value in music this year. Set in the city of Allentown, Muhlenberg College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,805. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete the music program here. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Muhlenberg College generally make around $35,641. Set against $26,259 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Muhlenberg College admits about 72% of applicants.
Gettysburg College earned the #11 position for value in music this year. Gettysburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Gettysburg. Students from in state pay about $66,640 in tuition and fees. Music graduates carry a median of $26,309 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $27,556. Set against $26,309 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value music schools. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,500. Students borrow a median of $26,857 to complete the music program here. Music graduates of Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary earn a median of $48,472 early in their careers. Set against $26,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Carnegie Mellon University earned the #13 position for value in music this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Typical student debt for music graduates is $24,431. Early-career music graduates make about $23,278. Set against $24,431 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value music schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Students borrow a median of $26,923 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $18,462. Set against $26,923 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Duquesne University placed #15 among the best values for music. Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,986. Music graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Duquesne University generally make around $27,854. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Duquesne University admits about 84% of applicants.
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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
