[Music Performance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-performance/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong music performance education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value music performance schools.
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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.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell earned the #1 spot for value among music performance schools in Massachusetts. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. In-state tuition and fees average $16,966, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $27,000. Early-career music performance graduates make about $35,311. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Harvard University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $16,616. Early-career music performance graduates make about $95,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $30,429. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Students looking for strong value in music performance will find it at Boston University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $26,957 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Boston University earn a median of $30,982 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Longy School Of Music Of Bard College earned it the #5 place for music performance. Set in the city of Cambridge, Longy School Of Music Of Bard College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $55,275 in tuition and fees. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Longy School Of Music Of Bard College generally make around $30,660.
The New England Conservatory Of Music ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Set in the city of Boston, The New England Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $60,750 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,991 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from The New England Conservatory Of Music generally make around $24,499. That is a strong return on a $26,991 median debt. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
Berklee College Of Music ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Berklee College Of Music is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $52,040. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $24,979 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Berklee College Of Music earn a median of $21,670 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 44%.
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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
