[Music Performance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-performance/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong music performance education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music performance students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music performance degrees they offer, see the list below.
Cuny Hunter College tops our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools in New York. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $33,384 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,091 median debt. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,452, compared with $15,402 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,303 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $16,996 early in their careers. Set against $13,303 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Cuny Queens College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,538, while out-of-state students pay about $15,488. Students borrow a median of $12,157 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $27,902. Set against $12,157 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Cuny Laguardia Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Set in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,218, compared with $8,098 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,858 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of Cuny Laguardia Community College earn a median of $31,437 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,858 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in music performance will find it at Onondaga Community College, which ranked #5. Onondaga Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Syracuse. Students from in state pay about $6,102 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,392 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $12,000. Music Performance graduates of Onondaga Community College earn a median of $35,781 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Schenectady County Community College came in at #6 for value in music performance this year. Located in the city of Schenectady, Schenectady County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,190, while out-of-state students pay about $8,974. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,902 ten years after entry.
Suny College At Potsdam placed #7 among the best values for music performance. Set in the town of Potsdam, Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,768, while out-of-state students pay about $18,678. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $27,000. Music Performance graduates of Suny College At Potsdam earn a median of $23,902 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Suny At Fredonia placed #8 among the best values for music performance. Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fredonia. In-state tuition and fees average $8,831, with out-of-state students paying around $19,771. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Suny At Fredonia generally make around $35,849. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Suny At Fredonia admits about 78% of applicants.
Stony Brook University placed #9 among the best values for music performance. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $34,264 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,537 median debt. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Purchase College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Purchase. Students from in state pay about $9,016 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,266. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $22,179 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Suny At Purchase College earn a median of $22,569 early in their careers. Set against $22,179 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Houghton College landed the #11 spot for music performance value this year. Set in the rural area of Houghton, Houghton College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,430. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $24,725 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $26,934. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Houghton College admits about 89% of applicants.
Five Towns College placed #12 among the best values for music performance. Five Towns College is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Dix Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,250. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $27,750. Early-career music performance graduates make about $25,315. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 54%.
University Of Rochester ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,080. Students borrow a median of $26,769 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of Rochester generally make around $27,409. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Nazareth College placed #14 among the best values for music performance. Nazareth College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,210. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $26,185 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Nazareth College earn a median of $44,626 early in their careers. Set against $26,185 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Long Island University C W Post Campus placed #15 among the best values for music performance. Located in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,432 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $25,211. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Long Island University C W Post Campus generally make around $61,547. Set against $25,211 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Ithaca College came in at #16 for value in music performance this year. Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ithaca. In-state tuition and fees average $52,616. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Ithaca College earn a median of $23,119 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Bard College landed the #17 spot for music performance value this year. Set in the rural area of Annandale-On-Hudson, Bard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $66,436. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $26,402 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $30,660. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bard College admits about 52% of applicants.
New York University earned the #18 position for value in music performance this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of New York University earn a median of $28,287 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Syracuse University landed the #19 spot for music performance value this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. In-state tuition and fees average $65,528. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $26,130. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $18,574. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Manhattan School Of Music placed #20 among the best values for music performance. Manhattan School Of Music is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $57,050. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Manhattan School Of Music generally make around $18,441. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 41%.
The New School ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,730. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $24,000. Music Performance graduates of The New School earn a median of $15,510 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
More Music Performance 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
