2027 Best Value Brass Instruments Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Brass Instruments](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/brass-instruments/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value brass instruments schools.
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2027 Best Value Brass Instruments Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in brass instruments, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Brass Instruments Schools
Our analysis ranked Rice University the best value for a degree in brass instruments in the United States. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,247. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans. Soon after graduation, brass instruments degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $30,454. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values for brass instruments. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the brass instruments program here. Soon after graduation, brass instruments degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $65,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Vanderbilt University one of the best values for brass instruments. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, brass instruments degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value brass instruments schools. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,769 to complete the brass instruments program here. Soon after graduation, brass instruments degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $15,911. That is a strong return on a $20,769 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Students looking for strong value in brass instruments will find it at Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music, which ranked #5. Set in the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,370, while out-of-state students pay about $3,850. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans. Early-career brass instruments graduates make about $5,005. That is a strong return on a $12,250 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky landed the #6 spot for brass instruments value this year. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for brass instruments graduates is $23,000. Early-career brass instruments graduates make about $17,040. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee came in at #7 for value in brass instruments this year. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,453 to complete the brass instruments program here. Brass Instruments graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $49,826 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Liberty University placed #8 among the best values for brass instruments. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the brass instruments program here. Brass Instruments graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $28,003 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
Roosevelt University earned the #9 position for value in brass instruments this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,315 in tuition and fees. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $27,750 in student loans. Brass Instruments graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $29,974 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Hartford landed the #10 spot for brass instruments value this year. Located in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $49,075. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the brass instruments program here. Early-career brass instruments graduates make about $24,511. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Southern California placed #11 among the best values for brass instruments. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Typical student debt for brass instruments graduates is $20,976. Brass Instruments graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $12,947 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,976 median debt. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Ithaca College came in at #12 for value in brass instruments this year. Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ithaca. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,616. Typical student debt for brass instruments graduates is $27,000. Early-career brass instruments graduates make about $38,328. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
San Francisco Conservatory Of Music placed #13 among the best values for brass instruments. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,150. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Brass Instruments graduates of San Francisco Conservatory Of Music earn a median of $26,916 early in their careers. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
The Juilliard School earned the #14 position for value in brass instruments this year. The Juilliard School is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,950. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career brass instruments graduates make about $14,101. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Los Angeles Music Academy ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value brass instruments schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, Los Angeles Music Academy is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,190. Typical student debt for brass instruments graduates is $37,296. Soon after graduation, brass instruments degree recipients from Los Angeles Music Academy generally make around $24,059. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Los Angeles Music Academy admits about 88% of applicants.
The New England Conservatory Of Music placed #16 among the best values for brass instruments. Located in the city of Boston, The New England Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,750. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $26,991 in student loans. Soon after graduation, brass instruments degree recipients from The New England Conservatory Of Music generally make around $24,499. Set against $26,991 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
Manhattan School Of Music earned the #17 position for value in brass instruments this year. Set in the city of New York, Manhattan School Of Music is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $57,050 in tuition and fees. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Brass Instruments graduates of Manhattan School Of Music earn a median of $18,441 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
Other Brass Instruments Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Brass Instruments rankings across degree levels:
View All Brass Instruments Rankings >
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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
