2027 Best Value Woodwind Instruments Master’s Degree 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.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value woodwind instruments schools.
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2027 Best Value Woodwind Instruments Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in woodwind instruments, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Woodwind Instruments Schools
For return on investment in woodwind instruments, no school beat University Of Michigan Ann Arbor this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Woodwind Instruments graduates carry a median of $19,397 in student loans. Soon after graduation, woodwind instruments degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. That is a strong return on a $19,397 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Rice University one of the best values for woodwind instruments. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. Woodwind Instruments graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans. Woodwind Instruments graduates of Rice University earn a median of $30,454 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #3 place for woodwind instruments. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Woodwind Instruments graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Early-career woodwind instruments graduates make about $65,681. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Indiana University Bloomington is a great value for students pursuing a degree in woodwind instruments, landing the #4 spot this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Typical student debt for woodwind instruments graduates is $20,769. Woodwind Instruments graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $22,513 early in their careers. Set against $20,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Texas Tech University one of the best values for woodwind instruments. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Students borrow a median of $27,816 to complete the woodwind instruments program here. Early-career woodwind instruments graduates make about $50,332. Set against $27,816 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Curtis Institute Of Music placed #6 among the best values for woodwind instruments. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Curtis Institute Of Music is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $0. Curtis Institute Of Music admits about 5% of applicants.
Roosevelt University landed the #7 spot for woodwind instruments value this year. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $21,315. Typical student debt for woodwind instruments graduates is $27,750. Soon after graduation, woodwind instruments degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $50,101. That is a strong return on a $27,750 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Hartford earned the #8 position for value in woodwind instruments this year. Set in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $49,075 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for woodwind instruments graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, woodwind instruments degree recipients from University Of Hartford generally make around $29,038. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California landed the #9 spot for woodwind instruments value 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 $27,510. That is a strong return on a $20,976 median debt. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Belmont University came in at #10 for value in woodwind instruments this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,540. Students borrow a median of $25,988 to complete the woodwind instruments program here. Woodwind Instruments graduates of Belmont University earn a median of $31,018 early in their careers. Set against $25,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Longy School Of Music Of Bard College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value woodwind instruments schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Longy School Of Music Of Bard College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $55,275 in tuition and fees. Soon after graduation, woodwind instruments degree recipients from Longy School Of Music Of Bard College generally make around $30,660.
San Francisco Conservatory Of Music ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value woodwind instruments schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $56,150. Typical student debt for woodwind instruments graduates is $27,000. Woodwind Instruments graduates of San Francisco Conservatory Of Music earn a median of $35,025 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 55%.
The Juilliard School ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value woodwind instruments schools. Set in the city of New York, The Juilliard School is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $57,950 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the woodwind instruments program here. 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. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
The New England Conservatory Of Music ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value woodwind instruments schools. The New England Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $60,750. Woodwind Instruments graduates carry a median of $26,991 in student loans. Woodwind Instruments graduates of The New England Conservatory Of Music earn a median of $24,499 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
Manhattan School Of Music ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value woodwind instruments schools. Set in the city of New York, Manhattan School Of Music is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $57,050. Typical student debt for woodwind instruments graduates is $27,000. Early-career woodwind instruments graduates make about $18,441. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Manhattan School Of Music admits about 41% of applicants.
Other Woodwind Instruments Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Woodwind Instruments rankings across degree levels:
View All Woodwind Instruments 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
