2027 Best Value General Music Schools in the Southeast Region
[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 71 schools to find the best return on investment for general music students.
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2027 Best Value General Music Schools in the Southeast Region
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 Florida, our #1 best value for general music in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $17,669. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $22,559. Set against $17,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Florida International University one of the best values for general music. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Students borrow a median of $14,882 to complete the general music program here. Early-career general music graduates make about $27,481. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned it the #3 place for general music. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. 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. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Florida Atlantic University one of the best values for general music. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. 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. Early-career general music graduates make about $49,340. That is a strong return on a $20,212 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Central Florida earned it the #5 place for general music. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $20,567. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $21,957. Set against $20,567 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Florida State University came in at #6 for value in general music this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Students borrow a median of $23,992 to complete the general music program here. Early-career general music graduates make about $26,311. Set against $23,992 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #7 spot for general music value this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. General Music graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $52,885. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Murray State University landed the #8 spot for general music value this year. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,900, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. General Music graduates carry a median of $26,731 in student loans. Early-career general music graduates make about $34,098. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Itawamba Community College placed #9 among the best values for general music. Located in the rural area of Fulton, Itawamba Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,420, compared with $5,820 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $10,942. Early-career general music graduates make about $40,832. Set against $10,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Tennessee Martin ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value general music schools. The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Martin. In-state tuition and fees average $10,560, compared with $16,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,770 to complete the general music program here. Early-career general music graduates make about $40,400. Set against $23,770 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Morehead State University landed the #11 spot for general music value this year. Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Morehead. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, compared with $14,980 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the general music program here. Early-career general music graduates make about $31,088. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Morehead State University admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value general music schools. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,661, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the general music program here. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $24,315. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #13 for value in general music this year. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,772, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,250 to complete the general music program here. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $38,029. That is a strong return on a $17,250 median debt. University Of Mississippi Main Campus admits about 97% of applicants.
Eastern Kentucky University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value general music schools. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $20,379. General Music graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $30,106 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Austin Peay State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value general music schools. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,006, compared with $14,766 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $31,000. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Austin Peay State University generally make around $39,008. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Austin Peay State University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of North Alabama ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value general music schools. Set in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,120, compared with $22,320 for out-of-state students. General Music graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of North Alabama generally make around $35,599. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Memphis earned the #17 position for value in general music this year. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $22,060. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $37,385. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #18 for value in general music this year. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $22,608. Early-career general music graduates make about $27,586. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville earned the #19 position for value in general music this year. Located in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,501 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,849. General Music graduates carry a median of $22,108 in student loans. General Music graduates of University Of North Carolina At Asheville earn a median of $31,821 early in their careers. Set against $22,108 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Western Carolina University came in at #20 for value in general music this year. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,630 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,630. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $27,000. General Music graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of $26,135 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Carolina University admits about 82% of applicants.
Tennessee Technological University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value general music schools. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,376, while out-of-state students pay about $15,576. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the general music program here. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Tennessee Technological University generally make around $44,635. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Georgia came in at #22 for value in general music this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Students borrow a median of $22,344 to complete the general music program here. Early-career general music graduates make about $24,514. That is a strong return on a $22,344 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Valdosta State University placed #23 among the best values for general music. Set in the city of Valdosta, Valdosta State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,124, while out-of-state students pay about $17,836. Students borrow a median of $28,661 to complete the general music program here. General Music graduates of Valdosta State University earn a median of $44,914 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,661 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of West Georgia came in at #24 for value in general music this year. Located in the town of Carrollton, University Of West Georgia is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,088 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,789 to complete the general music program here. Early-career general music graduates make about $46,432. Set against $26,789 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Vanderbilt University came in at #25 for value in general music this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. General Music graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career general music graduates make about $77,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Music Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general music value ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 71 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 71 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.
