2027 Best Value Music History Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Music History](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-history/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 47 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music history students.
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2027 Best Value Music History Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music history, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Music History Schools
University Of California Los Angeles tops our 2027 list of the best value music history schools in the United States. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $23,119. Music History graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $63,833 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,119 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Students looking for strong value in music history will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #2. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $19,397 to complete the music history program here. Early-career music history graduates make about $22,272. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
A rank of #3 makes Cuny Hunter College one of the best values for music history. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete the music history program here. Music History graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $33,384 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in music history will find it at Rice University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $11,904. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value music history schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Music History graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Music History graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $65,681 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
University Of Missouri Kansas City ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value music history schools. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,089 to complete the music history program here. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $22,315. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Northern Iowa came in at #7 for value in music history this year. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the music history program here. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $46,054. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
West Virginia University placed #8 among the best values for music history. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the music history program here. Music History graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $26,011 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Delaware ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value music history schools. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,810, with out-of-state students paying around $41,400. Music History graduates carry a median of $25,334 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $38,417. Set against $25,334 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for music history. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Music History graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $58,088. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Idaho came in at #11 for value in music history this year. University Of Idaho is a large public school located in the town of Moscow. Students from in state pay about $9,084 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,320. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $23,844. Music History graduates of University Of Idaho earn a median of $43,246 early in their careers. Set against $23,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Potsdam earned the #12 position for value in music history this year. Set in the town of Potsdam, Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,768, compared with $18,678 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from Suny College At Potsdam generally make around $23,902. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Suny College At Potsdam admits about 78% of applicants.
Johns Hopkins University earned the #13 position for value in music history this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the music history program here. Music History graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $16,479 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Southern Oregon University placed #14 among the best values for music history. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,762 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,887. Music History graduates carry a median of $24,951 in student loans. Early-career music history graduates make about $41,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Oregon University admits about 89% of applicants.
Texas Tech University came in at #15 for value in music history this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $27,816. Music History graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $50,332 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,816 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
University Of Kentucky ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value music history schools. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $17,040. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University placed #17 among the best values for music history. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $23,546. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $51,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Western Washington University landed the #18 spot for music history value this year. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,582, with out-of-state students paying around $28,707. Students borrow a median of $20,055 to complete the music history program here. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $41,118. That is a strong return on a $20,055 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #19 spot for music history value this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music history program here. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $36,252. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #20 spot for music history value this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $28,000. Early-career music history graduates make about $44,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value music history schools. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the suburb of West Chester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,775, compared with $22,599 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $61,258 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 78%.
The University Of Alabama earned the #22 position for value in music history this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. Students borrow a median of $25,675 to complete the music history program here. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $50,740. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Bob Jones University earned the #23 position for value in music history this year. Set in the city of Greenville, Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,892. Music History graduates carry a median of $20,497 in student loans. Early-career music history graduates make about $40,538. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Connecticut placed #24 among the best values for music history. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $25,000. Music History graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $58,784 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #25 spot for music history value this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $27,000. Early-career music history graduates make about $45,196. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 47 Best Value Music History Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for music history this year:
Other Music History Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Music History rankings across degree levels:
View All Music History Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 47 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 47 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.
