2027 Best Value General Music Schools in Massachusetts

[General Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/general-music/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general music students.
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2027 Best Value General Music Schools in Massachusetts
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
Leading the list is Harvard University, our #1 best value for general music in Massachusetts. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the general music program here. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Boston is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general music, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,898 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete the general music program here. Early-career general music graduates make about $52,885. That is a strong return on a $26,236 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Westfield State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value general music schools. Set in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,179, with out-of-state students paying around $18,259. General Music graduates carry a median of $25,910 in student loans. General Music graduates of Westfield State University earn a median of $46,645 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Westfield State University admits about 81% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Massachusetts Amherst one of the best values for general music. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $27,000. Early-career general music graduates make about $30,429. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Boston University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value general music schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Students borrow a median of $26,957 to complete the general music program here. Early-career general music graduates make about $30,982. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Clark University placed #6 among the best values for general music. Located in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,467. General Music graduates carry a median of $26,153 in student loans. General Music graduates of Clark University earn a median of $43,257 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,153 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Northeastern University placed #7 among the best values for general music. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,162. Students borrow a median of $26,568 to complete the general music program here. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $21,978. That is a strong return on a $26,568 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
More General Music Rankings
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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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.