2022 Best Value Colleges for Music (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Music is the 40th most popular major in the country with 27,047 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, music graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $25,639 and had an average of $28,653 in loans still to pay off.
Across Tennessee, there were 745 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $26,471 and $26,504 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 22 colleges that offered a degree in music. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent music programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the music program at the school. 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 Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 22 Best Value Colleges for Music (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Vanderbilt University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 50 degrees to qualified ’s music students in 2019-2020.
Vanderbilt also took the #1 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $3,156 for tennessee music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Vanderbilt University.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Middle Tennessee State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Middle Tennessee State University is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 105 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
Middle Tennessee State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $8,919 for Tennessee Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Middle Tennessee State University.
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Tennessee - Martin landed the #3 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Martin, Tennessee, and it awarded 13 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
UT Martin also took the #12 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $7,524 for tennessee music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The University of Tennessee - Martin.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k. The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga is a fairly large public school situated in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It awarded 10 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
UT Chattanooga not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $8,108 for tennessee music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga.
Read more about Music at The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville landed the #5 spot on the list. UT Knoxville is a large public school situated in Knoxville, Tennessee. It awarded 76 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Knoxville, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Knoxville is $10,224 for tennessee music students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Tennessee Technological University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cookeville, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.
Tennessee Tech University also made our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Tennessee Tech University is $11,641 for Tennessee Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Rhodes College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Rhodes College is located in Memphis, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
Rhodes College also made our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $16,870 for Tennessee Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Rhodes College.
The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%.
Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Trevecca Nazarene University is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
TNU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Trevecca Nazarene University is $15,228 for Tennessee Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
East Tennessee State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. ETSU is located in Johnson City, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
ETSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $10,632 for Tennessee Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend ETSU.
University of Memphis came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UofM is a large school located in Memphis, Tennessee that handed out 69 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UofM, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UofM is $10,256 for tennessee music students whose families make $0-$30k.
Austin Peay State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Clarksville, Tennessee, this fairly large public school handed out 31 degrees to qualified ’s music students in 2019-2020.
Austin Peay State University also made our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend Austin Peay State University is $10,909 for tennessee music students whose families make $0-$30k.
Nashville State Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this medium-sized public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2019-2020.
Nashville State Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $7,139 for Tennessee Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Nashville State Community College.
Freed-Hardeman University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. FHU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Henderson, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at FHU, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for FHU is $13,512 for Tennessee Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
Tennessee State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.
Tennessee State University also took the #17 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Tennessee State University is $11,015 for Tennessee Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
Lee University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Cleveland, Tennessee, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 22 degrees to qualified ’s music students in 2019-2020.
Lee University also took the #9 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lee University is $13,841 for tennessee music students whose families make $0-$30k.
Chattanooga State Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Chattanooga, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Chattanooga State Community College, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $5,986 for tennessee music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Chattanooga State Community College.
Read full report on Music at Chattanooga State Community College
Belmont University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Belmont is a medium-sized school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 124 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
Belmont also made our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for Belmont University is $25,980 for tennessee music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Milligan University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Milligan University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Milligan College, Tennessee. It awarded 1 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
Milligan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Milligan University is $14,089 for Tennessee Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Lipscomb University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Lipscomb University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Lipscomb also made our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Lipscomb University is $20,036 for tennessee music students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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.
Southern Adventist University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Collegedale, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our tennessee music students whose families make $0-$30k list, Southern Adventist has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $19,346 for Tennessee Music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southern Adventist University.
Union University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Union is located in Jackson, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Union, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $26,079 for tennessee music students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Union University.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Visible Music College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Memphis, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.
Visible Music College also took the #22 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Visible Music College is $21,073 for Tennessee Music students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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