by our College Data Analytics Team
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in music, no school beat Utah Valley University this year. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Students borrow a median of $16,478 to complete the music program here. Music graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $24,952 early in their careers. Set against $16,478 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Snow College earned it the #2 place for music. Snow College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Ephraim. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,338, compared with $14,288 for out-of-state students. Music graduates carry a median of $10,440 in student loans. Music graduates of Snow College earn a median of $42,776 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northwest College earned it the #3 place for music. Set in the town of Powell, Northwest College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,962, while out-of-state students pay about $11,262. Music graduates carry a median of $12,996 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Northwest College generally make around $40,014. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brigham Young University Idaho came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value music schools. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees. Music graduates carry a median of $13,541 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $43,853. Set against $13,541 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Utah University earned it the #5 place for music. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,962, compared with $21,192 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,886 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $44,998. That is a strong return on a $12,886 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Weber State University earned the #6 position for value in music this year. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,557, compared with $17,545 for out-of-state students. Music graduates carry a median of $19,176 in student loans. Music graduates of Weber State University earn a median of $53,920 early in their careers. Set against $19,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Colorado Denver came in at #7 for value in music this year. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,383, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music program here. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $29,483. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Idaho earned the #8 position for value in music this year. University Of Idaho is a large public school located in the town of Moscow. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,084, compared with $28,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,844 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $30,191. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Idaho admits about 76% of applicants.
Utah State University placed #9 among the best values for music. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,560, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete the music program here. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Utah State University generally make around $22,983. Set against $13,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Utah State University admits about 92% of applicants.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #10 for value in music this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,688. Students borrow a median of $10,460 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $22,625. Set against $10,460 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Utah placed #11 among the best values for music. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,620, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. Music graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $42,548. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Mesa State College came in at #12 for value in music this year. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. In-state tuition and fees average $9,927, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Typical student debt for music graduates is $22,310. Early-career music graduates make about $43,617. That is a strong return on a $22,310 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver came in at #13 for value in music this year. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,124 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Students borrow a median of $30,971 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $19,797. Set against $30,971 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
The University Of Montana landed the #14 spot for music value this year. Located in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,552 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,671. Music graduates carry a median of $24,342 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from The University Of Montana generally make around $42,654. That is a strong return on a $24,342 median debt. The University Of Montana admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Northern Colorado came in at #15 for value in music this year. University Of Northern Colorado is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. In-state tuition and fees average $11,901, with out-of-state students paying around $26,979. Students borrow a median of $24,354 to complete the music program here. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Northern Colorado generally make around $27,731. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Fort Collins placed #16 among the best values for music. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Typical student debt for music graduates is $26,837. Music graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $46,479 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,837 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #17 spot for music value this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Students borrow a median of $17,288 to complete the music program here. Music graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $32,416 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,288 median debt. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Denver landed the #18 spot for music value this year. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,398 in tuition and fees. Music graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Music graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $23,403 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
The ranking above is published 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.