[Music Performance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-performance/) 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 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music performance students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music performance, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 best value for music performance in Pennsylvania. Set in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,046 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,870. Students borrow a median of $27,128 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $31,429. Set against $27,128 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania admits about 93% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Community College Of Philadelphia one of the best values for music performance. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,632 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,744. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $16,059 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Community College Of Philadelphia generally make around $37,988. That is a strong return on a $16,059 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earned it the #3 place for music performance. Located in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,380, compared with $16,297 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,956 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $41,939. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #4 place for music performance. Set in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,775, with out-of-state students paying around $22,599. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,258 ten years after entry. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Messiah College one of the best values for music performance. Located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,240. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $25,965. Early-career music performance graduates make about $66,109. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Messiah College admits about 79% of applicants.
Lebanon Valley College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Lebanon Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Annville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,080. Students borrow a median of $26,846 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of Lebanon Valley College earn a median of $49,383 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,846 median debt. Lebanon Valley College admits about 84% of applicants.
Temple University earned the #7 position for value in music performance this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $20,667. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
Gettysburg College placed #8 among the best values for music performance. Located in the town of Gettysburg, Gettysburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,640. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $26,309. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Gettysburg College generally make around $27,556. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Carnegie Mellon University earned the #9 position for value in music performance this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,636. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $24,431. Music Performance graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $23,278 early in their careers. Set against $24,431 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Carnegie Mellon University admits about 12% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #10 for value in music performance this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Students borrow a median of $26,923 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $18,462 early in their careers. Set against $26,923 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Duquesne University landed the #11 spot for music performance value this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,986. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Duquesne University generally make around $27,854. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Duquesne University admits about 84% of applicants.
More Music Performance Rankings
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
