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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

28 Ranked Colleges
672 Degrees Awarded
$20,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Music Schools for a Master's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 27,047 people earned their degree in music, making the major the 40th most popular in the United States. 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 the Southwest region, there were 2,964 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,126 and $28,647 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 672 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,078 and $37,227 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 28 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the music program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

#1

Rice University

Houston, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rice University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Rice is a private not-for-profit institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 57 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rice, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Rice University are $47,913.

Full Rice Music Report

#15 in overall quality

Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #2 spot on the list. UT Rio Grande Valley is a large school located in Edinburg, Texas that handed out 5 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Rio Grande Valley, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Texas landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Denton, Texas, this large public school awarded 98 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.

UNT also took the #5 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNT are $15,618.

Read more about Music at University of North Texas

Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at San Antonio landed the #4 spot on the list. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

UTSA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UTSA are $25,807.

Read more about Music at UTSA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas Woman’s University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Texas Woman’s University is a fairly large school located in Denton, Texas that handed out 19 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

TWU also took the #23 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Woman’s University are $14,962, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music at TWU

#17 in overall quality

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Stillwater, Oklahoma that handed out 10 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OSU, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus are $23,963.

Read full report on Music at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

#7

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Texas Tech University is a public institution located in Lubbock, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 21 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Tech are $17,530, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music at Texas Tech

With a ranking of #8, The University of Texas at El Paso did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. The University of Texas at El Paso is a large school located in El Paso, Texas that handed out 8 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k list, UTEP has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at El Paso are $16,180, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full The University of Texas at El Paso Music Report

Texas A&M University - Kingsville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Kingsville, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Kingsville did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M Kingsville are $14,066.

Read more about Music at Texas A&M Kingsville

#10

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas

With a ranking of #10, Sam Houston State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. SHSU is a large school located in Huntsville, Texas that handed out 9 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

SHSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SHSU are $15,704, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full SHSU Music Report

#11

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Houston, Texas, this large public school handed out 29 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.

UH also took the #16 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UH are $18,689, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Music at University of Houston

Stephen F Austin State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Nacogdoches, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k list, SFASU has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFASU are $15,695, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music at Stephen F Austin State University

The University of Texas at Austin ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UT Austin is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 39 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Austin also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Austin are $22,886, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music at The University of Texas at Austin

#14

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Texas State University is a large school located in San Marcos, Texas that handed out 26 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas State also took the #13 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas State University are $17,040.

Read full report on Music at Texas State University

#15

West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas

West Texas A&M University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. West Texas A&M University is a fairly large public school situated in Canyon, Texas. It awarded 4 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k list, West Texas A&M University has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at West Texas A&M University are $8,013.

Read full report on Music at West Texas A&M University

#16

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Arizona is a large public school situated in Tucson, Arizona. It awarded 23 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona also made our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #12. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399.

Read more about Music at University of Arizona

Texas A&M University - Commerce ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Commerce, Texas, and it awarded 18 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas A&M Commerce, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M Commerce are $14,549.

Read more about Music at Texas A&M University - Commerce

Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Tempe, Arizona, this large public school awarded 55 diplomas to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ASU - Tempe, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Tempe are $27,048, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full ASU - Tempe Music Report

#18 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Arlington, Texas, this large public school awarded 14 degrees to qualified masters’s music students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k list, UT Arlington has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Arlington are $23,376, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music at The University of Texas at Arlington

#25 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Main Campus ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. NMSU Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It awarded 10 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

NMSU Main Campus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NMSU Main Campus are $18,275.

Full NMSU Main Campus Music Report

#7 in overall quality

University of Central Oklahoma did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. UCO is a fairly large school located in Edmond, Oklahoma that handed out 28 masters’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCO, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCO are $17,913.

Full University of Central Oklahoma Music Report

#22

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#21 in overall quality

Northern Arizona University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. NAU is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s music degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k list, NAU has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NAU are $19,489, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Northern Arizona University Music Report

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is located in Norman, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 masters’s music degrees to qualified students.

University of Oklahoma did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oklahoma are $23,236.

Read full report on Music at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

#24

Oklahoma City University

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

With a ranking of #24, Oklahoma City University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s music degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

OCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Oklahoma City University are $13,410, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music at OCU

#25

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico

With a ranking of #25, University of New Mexico - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Albuquerque, New Mexico is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music degrees to 31 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNM, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Music Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of New Mexico - Main Campus are $19,890, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of New Mexico - Main Campus Music Report

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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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