[Music Performance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-performance/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 4 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 Truman State University this year. Truman State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kirksville. Students from in state pay about $9,838 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,566. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $23,168 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Truman State University generally make around $39,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Truman State University admits about 84% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Missouri Kansas City one of the best values for music performance. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,089 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $32,144 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,089 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri State University Springfield earned it the #3 place for music performance. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $24,408 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $46,503. That is a strong return on a $24,408 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Evangel University earned it the #4 place for music performance. Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $28,548. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $24,876. Music Performance graduates of Evangel University earn a median of $42,039 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Evangel University admits about 72% of applicants.
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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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
