2027 Best Value General Music Schools in Wisconsin

[General Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/general-music/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general music education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for general music students.
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2027 Best Value General Music Schools in Wisconsin
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general music, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Music Schools
Leading the list is University Of Wisconsin Whitewater, our #1 best value for general music in Wisconsin. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,616 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,716. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $27,000. General Music graduates of University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn a median of $31,134 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value general music schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $25,750. Early-career general music graduates make about $27,478. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire one of the best values for general music. Set in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,642, while out-of-state students pay about $19,228. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $26,637. Early-career general music graduates make about $43,764. That is a strong return on a $26,637 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general music, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. General Music graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. General Music graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $31,552 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Lawrence University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value general music schools. Lawrence University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Appleton. Students from in state pay about $56,982 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the general music program here. Median earnings reach $55,789 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Carthage College landed the #6 spot for general music value this year. Set in the city of Kenosha, Carthage College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,750. General Music graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career general music graduates make about $24,273. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
More General Music Rankings
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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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.