[Music Performance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-performance/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 16 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.
For return on investment in music performance, no school beat The University Of Texas Pan American this year. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $20,920. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $56,373. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at El Centro College earned it the #2 place for music performance. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $14,557 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $41,295. Set against $14,557 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned it the #3 place for music performance. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,326, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $24,570. Music Performance graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $47,010 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,570 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes South Plains College one of the best values for music performance. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public university. 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. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from South Plains College generally make around $30,949. Set against $13,788 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Texas At Arlington is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music performance, landing the #5 spot this year. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public school located in the city of Arlington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,950, compared with $29,582 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,911 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Arlington generally make around $37,020. That is a strong return on a $24,911 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston landed the #6 spot for music performance value this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $52,799 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Texas A And M University Commerce landed the #7 spot for music performance value this year. Located in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,026 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,326. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $27,101. Early-career music performance graduates make about $52,282. That is a strong return on a $27,101 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of North Texas landed the #8 spot for music performance value this year. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $24,456. Early-career music performance graduates make about $36,763. Set against $24,456 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Sam Houston State University came in at #9 for value in music performance this year. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,068 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $28,000. Early-career music performance graduates make about $46,365. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #10 for value in music performance this year. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Students borrow a median of $26,241 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $39,318 early in their careers. Set against $26,241 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University placed #11 among the best values for music performance. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $27,816. Music Performance graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $39,571 early in their careers. Set against $27,816 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #12 position for value in music performance this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $33,937. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Tarleton State University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value music performance schools. Set in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,302, while out-of-state students pay about $18,142. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Tarleton State University earn a median of $50,532 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Christian University earned the #14 position for value in music performance this year. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Students from in state pay about $61,740 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $23,500. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $60,035. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Methodist University earned the #15 position for value in music performance this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,040. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $18,417. 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.
Baylor University earned the #16 position for value in music performance this year. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,100. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $10,210 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 51% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
