2027 Best Value Conducting Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Conducting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/conducting/) 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for conducting students.
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2027 Best Value Conducting Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in conducting, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Conducting Schools
Our analysis ranked Johns Hopkins University the best value for a degree in conducting in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,730 in tuition and fees. Conducting graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Conducting graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $84,850 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Queens College earned it the #2 place for conducting. Cuny Queens College is a large public school located in the city of Queens. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,157 to complete the conducting program here. Early-career conducting graduates make about $27,902. Set against $12,157 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Students looking for strong value in conducting will find it at Houghton College, which ranked #3. Located in the rural area of Houghton, Houghton College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,430. Students borrow a median of $24,725 to complete the conducting program here. Early-career conducting graduates make about $26,934. Set against $24,725 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in conducting will find it at Rider University, which ranked #4. Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,120. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the conducting program here. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from Rider University generally make around $26,943. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rider University admits about 79% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Temple University one of the best values for conducting. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the conducting program here. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $20,667. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rochester ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value conducting schools. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,080. Students borrow a median of $26,769 to complete the conducting program here. Early-career conducting graduates make about $27,409. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Catholic University Of America placed #7 among the best values for conducting. Located in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,378. Conducting graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans. Conducting graduates of Catholic University Of America earn a median of $23,856 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,625 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #8 for value in conducting this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,636. Conducting graduates carry a median of $24,431 in student loans. Conducting graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,431 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in conducting this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,923 to complete the conducting program here. Conducting graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $18,462 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,923 median debt. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Ithaca College landed the #10 spot for conducting value this year. Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ithaca. In-state tuition and fees average $52,616. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $27,000. Conducting 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%.
Syracuse University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value conducting schools. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Students from in state pay about $65,528 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,130 to complete the conducting program here. Early-career conducting graduates make about $18,574. Set against $26,130 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
The Juilliard School landed the #12 spot for conducting value this year. Located in the city of New York, The Juilliard School is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $57,950 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the conducting program here. Early-career conducting graduates make about $14,101. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Manhattan School Of Music ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value conducting schools. Located in the city of New York, Manhattan School Of Music is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $57,050 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from Manhattan School Of Music generally make around $18,441. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 41%.
The New School earned the #14 position for value in conducting this year. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,730. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $24,000. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from The New School generally make around $15,510. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Narrow Conducting Schools by State
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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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
