2027 Best Value Woodwind Instruments Schools
[Woodwind Instruments](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/woodwind-instruments/) 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 woodwind instruments students.
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Finding the Best Value Woodwind Instruments School for You
The woodwind instruments program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we built our Best Value Woodwind Instruments Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Read more about our methodology
Customizing Your List
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Woodwind Instruments Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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2027 Best Value Woodwind Instruments Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the woodwind instruments degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Woodwind Instruments Schools
Leading the list is University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 best value for woodwind instruments in the United States. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for woodwind instruments graduates is $19,397. Soon after graduation, woodwind instruments degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Students looking for strong value in woodwind instruments will find it at Rice University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for woodwind instruments graduates is $11,904. Soon after graduation, woodwind instruments degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $30,454. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value woodwind instruments schools. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Woodwind Instruments graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career woodwind instruments graduates make about $77,997. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #4 place for woodwind instruments. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the woodwind instruments program here. Early-career woodwind instruments graduates make about $65,681. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music earned it the #5 place for woodwind instruments. Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music is a small public school located in the city of San Juan. Students from in state pay about $3,370 in tuition and fees, compared with $3,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for woodwind instruments graduates is $12,250. Early-career woodwind instruments graduates make about $5,005. That is a strong return on a $12,250 median debt. Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music admits about 78% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington placed #6 among the best values for woodwind instruments. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Woodwind Instruments graduates carry a median of $20,769 in student loans. Soon after graduation, woodwind instruments degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $28,328. That is a strong return on a $20,769 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value woodwind instruments schools. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Woodwind Instruments graduates carry a median of $27,816 in student loans. Early-career woodwind instruments graduates make about $50,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
University Of Southern California earned the #8 position for value in woodwind instruments this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Students borrow a median of $20,976 to complete the woodwind instruments program here. Soon after graduation, woodwind instruments degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $23,244. That is a strong return on a $20,976 median debt. The acceptance rate is 10%.
University Of Hartford earned the #9 position for value in woodwind instruments this year. Located in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,075. Woodwind Instruments graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career woodwind instruments graduates make about $26,775. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Hartford admits about 96% of applicants.
Roosevelt University earned the #10 position for value in woodwind instruments this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,315. Woodwind Instruments graduates carry a median of $27,750 in student loans. Early-career woodwind instruments graduates make about $29,974. That is a strong return on a $27,750 median debt. Roosevelt University admits about 97% of applicants.
Belmont University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value woodwind instruments schools. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,540. Students borrow a median of $25,988 to complete the woodwind instruments program here. Early-career woodwind instruments graduates make about $27,517. That is a strong return on a $25,988 median debt. Belmont University admits about 95% of applicants.
Ithaca College landed the #12 spot for woodwind instruments value this year. Located in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $52,616 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the woodwind instruments program here. Woodwind Instruments graduates of Ithaca College earn a median of $38,328 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Longy School Of Music Of Bard College placed #13 among the best values for woodwind instruments. 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 woodwind instruments graduates make about $30,660.
San Francisco Conservatory Of Music earned the #14 position for value in woodwind instruments this year. San Francisco Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,150. Typical student debt for woodwind instruments graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, woodwind instruments degree recipients from San Francisco Conservatory Of Music generally make around $32,882. The acceptance rate is 55%.
The Juilliard School placed #15 among the best values for woodwind instruments. Set in the city of New York, The Juilliard School is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $57,950. Typical student debt for woodwind instruments graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, woodwind instruments degree recipients from The Juilliard School generally make around $14,101. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The Juilliard School admits about 9% of applicants.
Los Angeles Music Academy placed #16 among the best values for woodwind instruments. Located in the city of Pasadena, Los Angeles Music Academy is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $29,190. Woodwind Instruments graduates carry a median of $37,296 in student loans. Soon after graduation, woodwind instruments degree recipients from Los Angeles Music Academy generally make around $24,059. That is a strong return on a $37,296 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The New England Conservatory Of Music placed #17 among the best values for woodwind instruments. Located in the city of Boston, The New England Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $60,750. Typical student debt for woodwind instruments graduates is $26,991. Early-career woodwind instruments graduates make about $24,499. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 41%.
Manhattan School Of Music came in at #18 for value in woodwind instruments this year. Manhattan School Of Music is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,050. Woodwind Instruments graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career woodwind instruments graduates make about $18,441. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 41%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
