[General Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/general-music/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 296 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general music schools.
University Of Florida tops our 2027 list of the best value general music schools in the United States. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. General Music graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Early-career general music graduates make about $22,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Brooklyn College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general music, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,452, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Students borrow a median of $13,303 to complete the general music program here. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $16,996. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas Pan American one of the best values for general music. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $20,920. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $56,373. Set against $20,920 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
California State University Los Angeles is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general music, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,164, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. General Music graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans. General Music graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $21,509 early in their careers. Set against $12,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny City College earned it the #5 place for general music. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,340, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the general music program here. Early-career general music graduates make about $19,145. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
California State University San Bernardino came in at #6 for value in general music this year. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,088, while out-of-state students pay about $20,688. Students borrow a median of $15,149 to complete the general music program here. Early-career general music graduates make about $27,724. That is a strong return on a $15,149 median debt. California State University San Bernardino admits about 94% of applicants.
California State University Fullerton landed the #7 spot for general music value this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $20,469. General Music graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $23,969 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Northridge came in at #8 for value in general music this year. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. General Music graduates carry a median of $15,933 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $18,226. Set against $15,933 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Texas A And M International University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general music schools. Located in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,894, while out-of-state students pay about $19,454. General Music graduates carry a median of $15,095 in student loans. Early-career general music graduates make about $20,788. Set against $15,095 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Stanislaus landed the #10 spot for general music value this year. Located in the suburb of Turlock, California State University Stanislaus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,242, with out-of-state students paying around $20,842. Students borrow a median of $14,813 to complete the general music program here. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from California State University Stanislaus generally make around $46,807. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Utah Valley University came in at #11 for value in general music this year. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. General Music graduates carry a median of $16,478 in student loans. General Music graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $24,952 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Bakersfield came in at #12 for value in general music this year. California State University Bakersfield is a large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. Students from in state pay about $8,087 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,687. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,009. California State University Bakersfield admits about 94% of applicants.
Florida International University earned the #13 position for value in general music this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. General Music graduates carry a median of $14,882 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $25,484. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
California State University Fresno ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value general music schools. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,341, with out-of-state students paying around $19,941. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $15,598. Early-career general music graduates make about $49,502. Set against $15,598 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
California State University East Bay landed the #15 spot for general music value this year. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. In-state tuition and fees average $7,583, with out-of-state students paying around $20,183. Students borrow a median of $18,073 to complete the general music program here. Early-career general music graduates make about $58,951. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University East Bay admits about 97% of applicants.
California State University Dominguez Hills placed #16 among the best values for general music. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. Students from in state pay about $7,454 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,054 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,886 to complete the general music program here. General Music graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $52,683 early in their careers. Set against $15,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Sacramento landed the #17 spot for general music value this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,018, while out-of-state students pay about $20,618. General Music graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Early-career general music graduates make about $25,391. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At El Paso landed the #18 spot for general music value this year. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Students borrow a median of $14,612 to complete the general music program here. General Music graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $56,062 early in their careers. Set against $14,612 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At El Paso admits about 100% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #19 spot for general music value this year. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. General Music graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $32,880. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 15%.
Florida Atlantic University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value general music schools. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $20,212. General Music graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $49,340 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,212 median debt. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida landed the #21 spot for general music value this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $20,567. Early-career general music graduates make about $21,957. That is a strong return on a $20,567 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #22 among the best values for general music. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,829 to complete the general music program here. General Music graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $52,885 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio came in at #23 for value in general music this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,326 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. General Music graduates carry a median of $24,570 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $47,010. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Snow College earned the #24 position for value in general music this year. Snow College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Ephraim. In-state tuition and fees average $4,338, while out-of-state students pay about $14,288. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $10,440. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Snow College generally make around $42,776. That is a strong return on a $10,440 median debt.
Florida State University placed #25 among the best values for general music. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. General Music graduates carry a median of $23,992 in student loans. Early-career general music graduates make about $19,429. That is a strong return on a $23,992 median debt. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Music Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general music value ranking:
This list is compiled 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 · 296 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 296 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).
[General Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/general-music/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
