[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 26 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.
Our analysis ranked The University Of Texas Pan American the best value for a degree in music performance in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,920 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $56,373 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,920 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
A rank of #2 makes El Centro College one of the best values for music performance. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Students borrow a median of $14,557 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $41,295. That is a strong return on a $14,557 median debt.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,326 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,570 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $47,010. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $15,996 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at South Plains College earned it the #5 place for music performance. South Plains College is a large public school located in the town of Levelland. Students from in state pay about $2,733 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,157. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $13,788 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of South Plains College earn a median of $30,949 early in their careers. Set against $13,788 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mesa Community College earned the #6 position for value in music performance this year. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Mesa Community College generally make around $54,730. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas A And M University Commerce earned the #7 position for value in music performance this year. Set in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,026 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,326 for out-of-state students. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,101 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Texas A And M University Commerce earn a median of $52,282 early in their careers. Set against $27,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas A And M University Commerce admits about 92% of applicants.
New Mexico State University Main Campus came in at #8 for value in music performance this year. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,183, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,026 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $41,860. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Arlington placed #9 among the best values for music performance. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,950 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,582. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $24,911 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of $37,020 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,911 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Houston earned the #10 position for value in music performance this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $52,799. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
Northern Arizona University earned the #11 position for value in music performance this year. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $21,645 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $47,056. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Arizona State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $21,504. Music Performance graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $26,653 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,504 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $21,639. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $17,665. Set against $21,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of North Texas came in at #14 for value in music performance this year. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $24,456. Music Performance graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $36,763 early in their careers. Set against $24,456 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
Sam Houston State University came in at #15 for value in music performance this year. Sam Houston State University is a very large public school located in the town of Huntsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $19,068. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $28,000. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $46,365. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #16 for value in music performance this year. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Students from in state pay about $10,140 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $19,738 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $49,983. That is a strong return on a $19,738 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Texas State University San Marcos landed the #17 spot for music performance value this year. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $26,241 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $39,318. Set against $26,241 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Arizona landed the #18 spot for music performance value this year. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $14,800. Music Performance graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $30,157 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,800 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University landed the #19 spot for music performance value this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,816 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $39,571. Set against $27,816 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
University Of Central Oklahoma landed the #20 spot for music performance value this year. Set in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,818, compared with $19,704 for out-of-state students. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of University Of Central Oklahoma earn a median of $25,548 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,125 median debt. University Of Central Oklahoma admits about 78% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $33,937. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Tarleton State University landed the #22 spot for music performance value this year. Tarleton State University is a large public school located in the town of Stephenville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,302, while out-of-state students pay about $18,142. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $50,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Oklahoma City University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Oklahoma City University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Oklahoma City. In-state tuition and fees average $34,754. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $26,456 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $22,203. Set against $26,456 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Christian University earned the #24 position for value in music performance this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,740. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $60,035. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Methodist University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,040. Students borrow a median of $18,417 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $26,308. That is a strong return on a $18,417 median debt. Southern Methodist University admits about 63% of applicants.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s music performance value ranking:
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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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 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.
