2026 Best Value Jazz Studies Schools in the New England Region
[Jazz Studies](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/jazz-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for jazz studies students.
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2026 Best Value Jazz Studies Schools in the New England Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in jazz studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Jazz Studies Schools
Leading the list is University Of Southern Maine, our #1 best value for jazz studies in the New England Region. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,090, compared with $29,940 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,593 to complete the jazz studies program here. Soon after graduation, jazz studies degree recipients from University Of Southern Maine generally make around $47,003. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value jazz studies schools. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Jazz Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career jazz studies graduates make about $30,429. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Hartford earned it the #3 place for jazz studies. Located in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $49,075. Typical student debt for jazz studies graduates is $27,000. Jazz Studies graduates of University Of Hartford earn a median of $26,775 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #4 makes The New England Conservatory Of Music one of the best values for jazz studies. Located in the city of Boston, The New England Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,750. Students borrow a median of $26,991 to complete the jazz studies program here. Early-career jazz studies graduates make about $24,499. Set against $26,991 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
