2022 Best Value Colleges for Music (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k” 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 Illinois, there were 1,073 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $23,747 and $27,432 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 30 colleges that offered a degree in music. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality music programs that also have a lower cost than 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k
The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois music students whose families make $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Music (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 160 students in 2019-2020.
Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern University is $6,452 for Illinois Music students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2019-2020.
UChicago also took the #3 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Chicago is $7,934 for Illinois Music students whose families make $48-$75k.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 0.6% 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 100%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 141 degrees to qualified ’s music students in 2019-2020.
UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $13,351 for illinois music students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Music Report
Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Elgin Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Elgin, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Elgin Community College is $6,022 for illinois music students whose families make $48-$75k.
Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Eastern Illinois University landed the #5 spot on the list. EIU is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
EIU also made our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend EIU is $13,560 for Illinois Music students whose families make $48-$75k.
Wheaton College Illinois landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Wheaton, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 26 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois music students whose families make $48-$75k list, Wheaton College Illinois has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $19,691 for Illinois Music students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Wheaton College Illinois.
The student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #7. SIUE is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 40 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
SIUE not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $13,705 for illinois music students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend SIUE.
Read more about Music at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
With a ranking of #8, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 71 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
NIU also made our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $18,346 for Illinois Music students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend NIU.
Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Macomb, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 51 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at WIU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WIU is $15,912 for illinois music students whose families make $48-$75k.
University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 9 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,683 for illinois music students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Millikin University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Millikin University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Decatur, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois music students whose families make $48-$75k list, Millikin has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Millikin University is $20,390 for Illinois Music students whose families make $48-$75k.
The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. This fairly large school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 19 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
SIUC also took the #24 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SIUC is $14,985 for Illinois Music students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Music at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Olivet Nazarene University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2019-2020.
Olivet Nazarene also made our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend Olivet Nazarene is $17,841 for illinois music students whose families make $48-$75k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #14, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Illinois State University is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 67 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
Illinois State also made our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $19,080 for Illinois Music students whose families make $48-$75k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
North Park University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 18 degrees to qualified ’s music students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Park, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $18,813 for Illinois Music students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend North Park.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
With a ranking of #16, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Northeastern Illinois University is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northeastern Illinois University, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northeastern Illinois University is $18,180 for illinois music students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Music at Northeastern Illinois University
Augustana College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Augustana College is a small school located in Rock Island, Illinois that handed out 3 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
Augustana not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $21,453 for Illinois Music students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Augustana.
The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
University of St Francis came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Saint Francis is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Joliet, Illinois. It awarded 6 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
University of Saint Francis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of St Francis is $14,220 for illinois music students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Lake Forest College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Lake Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 7 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois music students whose families make $48-$75k list, Lake Forest has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $24,683 for illinois music students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Lake Forest.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Elmhurst University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #20. This small school is located in Elmhurst, Illinois, and it awarded 16 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
Elmhurst also made our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for Elmhurst University is $19,703 for Illinois Music students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%.
Knox College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Knox is a small school located in Galesburg, Illinois that handed out 10 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Knox College is $19,653 for illinois music students whose families make $48-$75k.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. 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%.
North Central College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Naperville, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2019-2020.
North Central not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend North Central is $23,353 for Illinois Music students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%.
Bradley University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #23. Peoria, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.
Bradley also took the #10 spot in our “Best Music Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bradley University is $22,865 for Illinois Music students whose families make $48-$75k.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Dominican University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This small school is located in River Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 1 ’s music degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Dominican University is $18,582 for illinois music students whose families make $48-$75k.
The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Trinity International University - Illinois ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Trinity International University - Illinois is located in Deerfield, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 ’s music degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $17,441 for illinois music students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Trinity International University - Illinois.
The impressive 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.
Full Trinity International University - Illinois 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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