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2023 Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k

16 Ranked Colleges
511 Degrees Awarded
$9,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Music is the 43rd most popular major in the country with 25,910 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, music graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $27,160 and had an average of $24,560 in loans still to pay off.

Across North Carolina, there were 511 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $22,568 and $26,863 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 16 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in music. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great music programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the music program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 16 Best Value Colleges for Music (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina

1
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Duke University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k. Duke University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Durham, North Carolina. It awarded 13 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Duke, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Music Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $371 for north carolina music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Duke University.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at Duke University

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k. UNC Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 50 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UNC Chapel Hill not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Music Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $3,753 for north carolina music students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at UNC Chapel Hill

3

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina School of the Arts landed the #3 spot on the list. Winston-Salem, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 41 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNCSA, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Music Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $5,766 for North Carolina Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNCSA.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full UNCSA Music Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. Greensboro, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 86 students in 2020-2021.

UNC Greensboro also took the #3 spot in our “Best Music Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $7,645 for north carolina music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Full University of North Carolina at Greensboro Music Report

5
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Appalachian State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k. Boone, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

Appalachian State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Music Schools in North Carolina” list. It costs about $7,354 for North Carolina Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Appalachian State.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Music at Appalachian State

6
WCU crest
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina

Western Carolina University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Western Carolina University is located in Cullowhee, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 41 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WCU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Music Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Carolina University is $9,305 for North Carolina Music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Music at WCU

7

University of North Carolina at Asheville came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Asheville, North Carolina, and it awarded 20 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

UNCA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Music Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Asheville is $8,677 for north carolina music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Music at UNCA

8
ECU crest
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

East Carolina University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. ECU is located in Greenville, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 41 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ECU, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Music Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend ECU is $11,260 for north carolina music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full ECU Music Report

9

University of North Carolina at Charlotte came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Charlotte, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.

UNC Charlotte also made our “Best Music Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $12,751 for North Carolina Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of North Carolina at Charlotte Music Report

10

University of North Carolina at Wilmington landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Wilmington, North Carolina, this fairly large public school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2020-2021.

UNCW also took the #9 spot in our “Best Music Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNCW is $11,710 for North Carolina Music students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music at UNCW

11
NC A&T crest
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, North Carolina

North Carolina A & T State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. North Carolina A & T State University is a fairly large public school situated in Greensboro, North Carolina. It awarded 10 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NC A&T, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Music Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Carolina A & T State University is $7,827 for North Carolina Music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Music at North Carolina A & T State University

12

University of North Carolina at Pembroke came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of North Carolina at Pembroke is located in Pembroke, North Carolina and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

UNC Pembroke did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Music Schools in North Carolina” list. It costs about $8,412 for north carolina music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNC Pembroke.

Full University of North Carolina at Pembroke Music Report

13
North Carolina Central University crest
North Carolina Central University
Durham, North Carolina

North Carolina Central University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. This medium-sized school is located in Durham, North Carolina, and it awarded 9 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

North Carolina Central University also took the #15 spot in our “Best Music Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Carolina Central University is $12,249 for North Carolina Music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Music at North Carolina Central University

14
Greensboro College crest
Greensboro College
Greensboro, North Carolina

Greensboro College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2020-2021.

Greensboro College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Music Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for Greensboro College is $13,622 for North Carolina Music students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Music at Greensboro College

15
Meredith crest
Meredith College
Raleigh, North Carolina

Meredith College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 4 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Meredith, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Music Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Meredith College is $19,426 for north carolina music students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Music at Meredith

16
Catawba crest
Catawba College
Salisbury, North Carolina

With a ranking of #16, Catawba College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Schools in North Carolina For Those Making $0-$30k list. Catawba is a small school located in Salisbury, North Carolina that handed out 4 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

Catawba also made our “Best Music Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for Catawba is $15,146 for north carolina music students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Catawba College Music Report

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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