2027 Best Value Music Schools in Massachusetts

[Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for music students.
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2027 Best Value Music Schools in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Music Schools
University Of Massachusetts Lowell earned the #1 spot for value among music schools in Massachusetts. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, with out-of-state students paying around $36,264. Typical student debt for music graduates is $27,000. Early-career music graduates make about $35,311. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Harvard University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value music schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Music graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value music schools. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, compared with $38,115 for out-of-state students. Music graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $52,885. Set against $26,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in music will find it at Westfield State University, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,179 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,259 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,910 to complete the music program here. Music graduates of Westfield State University earn a median of $46,645 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,910 median debt. Westfield State University admits about 81% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned it the #5 place for music. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Music graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Music graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $30,429 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University placed #6 among the best values for music. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Music graduates carry a median of $26,957 in student loans. Music graduates of Boston University earn a median of $30,982 early in their careers. Set against $26,957 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
Clark University came in at #7 for value in music this year. Set in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,467. Students borrow a median of $26,153 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $43,257. Set against $26,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Clark University admits about 40% of applicants.
Northeastern University landed the #8 spot for music value this year. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $66,162 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,568 to complete the music program here. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $21,978. That is a strong return on a $26,568 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Longy School Of Music Of Bard College landed the #9 spot for music value this year. Longy School Of Music Of Bard College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. In-state tuition and fees average $55,275. Early-career music graduates make about $30,660.
The New England Conservatory Of Music placed #10 among the best values for music. The New England Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $60,750 in tuition and fees. Music graduates carry a median of $26,991 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $24,499. That is a strong return on a $26,991 median debt. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
Berklee College Of Music ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value music schools. Berklee College Of Music is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,040. Typical student debt for music graduates is $24,979. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Berklee College Of Music generally make around $21,670. Set against $24,979 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 44%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.