2027 Best Value Music Schools in Virginia
[Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music students.
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2027 Best Value Music Schools in Virginia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Music Schools
For return on investment in music, no school beat Old Dominion University this year. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,750, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Music graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $57,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Radford University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value music schools. Located in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,548, compared with $25,633 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 Radford University generally make around $39,593. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Students looking for strong value in music will find it at George Mason University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music graduates is $24,048. Music graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $34,841 early in their careers. Set against $24,048 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Virginia State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Petersburg, Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,043, with out-of-state students paying around $22,650. Music graduates carry a median of $29,010 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $40,620. Set against $29,010 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia State University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value music schools. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Music graduates carry a median of $18,131 in student loans. Music graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
James Madison University landed the #6 spot for music value this year. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,966, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. Students borrow a median of $20,968 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $36,106. Set against $20,968 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. James Madison University admits about 72% of applicants.
Virginia Commonwealth University placed #7 among the best values for music. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,720, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Music graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $28,989. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #8 spot for music value this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $60,004. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Liberty University earned the #9 position for value in music this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Music graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $33,956. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Shenandoah University placed #10 among the best values for music. Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winchester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,950. Music graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Shenandoah University generally make around $62,948. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Shenandoah University admits about 77% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
