by our College Data Analytics Team
[Music Technology](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-technology/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music technology students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music technology degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in music technology, no school beat Millikin University this year. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,792. Students borrow a median of $26,996 to complete the music technology program here. Early-career music technology graduates make about $21,138. Set against $26,996 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Millikin University admits about 67% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in music technology will find it at Columbia College Chicago, which ranked #2. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $34,088. Typical student debt for music technology graduates is $27,000. Music Technology graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $19,943 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.