[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.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value music performance schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music performance, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in music performance, no school beat Nashville State Community College this year. Nashville State Community College is a large public school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,730, while out-of-state students pay about $17,714. Students borrow a median of $16,745 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $41,456. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lee University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,790. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Lee University earn a median of $38,249 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lee University admits about 70% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lipscomb University earned it the #3 place for music performance. Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $19,352 early in their careers. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Visible Music College earned it the #4 place for music performance. Set in the city of Memphis, Visible Music College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,000. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $16,250 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Visible Music College earn a median of $25,461 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,250 median debt. Roughly 28% of applicants are accepted.
Belmont University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,540. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $25,988. Early-career music performance graduates make about $27,517. Set against $25,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
More Music Performance Rankings
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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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
