2027 Best Value Music Schools in New Mexico

[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 3 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value music schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Music Schools in New Mexico
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Music Schools
For return on investment in music, no school beat Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus this year. Located in the town of Portales, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,074, with out-of-state students paying around $9,054. Music graduates carry a median of $19,277 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus generally make around $49,087. That is a strong return on a $19,277 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at New Mexico State University Main Campus earned it the #2 place for music. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. Students from in state pay about $8,183 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music graduates is $19,026. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from New Mexico State University Main Campus generally make around $41,860. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value music schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,140, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Music graduates carry a median of $19,738 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $49,983. Set against $19,738 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
View All Music Rankings >
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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.