[Music Performance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-performance/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music performance students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music performance degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in music performance, no school beat University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill this year. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $32,880. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 15%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Greensboro one of the best values for music performance. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,012 for out-of-state students. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $24,315. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Western Carolina University one of the best values for music performance. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,630, while out-of-state students pay about $8,630. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $27,000. Music Performance graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of $26,135 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,858 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $38,831 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,858 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Students looking for strong value in music performance will find it at University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Winston Salem, University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,477, while out-of-state students pay about $27,211. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $23,143 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $19,939. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 30% of applicants are accepted.
East Carolina University came in at #6 for value in music performance this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,361, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $26,000. Music Performance graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $26,222 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
Appalachian State University placed #7 among the best values for music performance. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,579, while out-of-state students pay about $25,212. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $23,304. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
More Music Performance Rankings
View All Music Performance Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 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.
