2026 Best Value General Music Schools in Illinois
[General Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/general-music/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 60 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general music students.
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2026 Best Value General Music Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general music degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Music Schools
For return on investment in general music, no school beat University Of Illinois At Chicago this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $20,115. Early-career general music graduates make about $61,829. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Western Illinois University one of the best values for general music. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,572. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $30,000. Early-career general music graduates make about $32,666. That is a strong return on a $30,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Students looking for strong value in general music will find it at Millikin University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,792. Students borrow a median of $26,996 to complete the general music program here. Early-career general music graduates make about $21,138. Set against $26,996 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northeastern Illinois University earned it the #4 place for general music. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,383, compared with $22,726 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,600 to complete the general music program here. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $49,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Northern Illinois University one of the best values for general music. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. General Music graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $41,632. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #6 among the best values for general music. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $23,500. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $34,079. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Illinois University landed the #7 spot for general music value this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,377, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. General Music graduates carry a median of $26,300 in student loans. Early-career general music graduates make about $37,163. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #8 position for value in general music this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. General Music graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans. Early-career general music graduates make about $25,536. That is a strong return on a $24,625 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Illinois State University came in at #9 for value in general music this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. General Music graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. General Music graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $35,863 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Roosevelt University landed the #10 spot for general music value 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. General Music graduates carry a median of $27,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $29,974. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Chicago ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general music schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,088. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $27,000. General Music graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $19,943 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Wheaton College Illinois placed #12 among the best values for general music. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,546. Students borrow a median of $24,556 to complete the general music program here. General Music graduates of Wheaton College Illinois earn a median of $43,654 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,556 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Northwestern University placed #13 among the best values for general music. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. General Music graduates carry a median of $18,166 in student loans. General Music graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $28,057 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Depaul University placed #14 among the best values for general music. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Students borrow a median of $23,334 to complete the general music program here. General Music graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $22,885 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
More General Music Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 60 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
