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Featured Music Programs
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MBA in Music Business
Earn the music business degree that fits into the business world – and partners Southern New Hampshire University with world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
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2026 Best Value Music Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Music Schools
Our analysis ranked Youngstown State University the best value for a degree in music in Ohio. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Students borrow a median of $26,373 to complete the music program here. Music graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $34,657 early in their careers. Set against $26,373 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stark State College earned it the #2 place for music. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,790, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music graduates is $17,349. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Stark State College generally make around $42,724. Set against $17,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Terra State Community College earned it the #3 place for music. Terra State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Fremont. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,748, compared with $8,544 for out-of-state students. Music graduates carry a median of $24,070 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Terra State Community College generally make around $63,495. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wright State University Main Campus earned it the #4 place for music. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. Students from in state pay about $10,991 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Typical student debt for music graduates is $25,836. Early-career music graduates make about $49,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value music schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Typical student debt for music graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $35,209. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Cleveland State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value music schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Music graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $32,887. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #7 spot for music value this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Music graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Music graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $24,340 early in their careers. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #8 spot for music value this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Typical student debt for music graduates is $27,000. Early-career music graduates make about $34,193. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value music schools. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music program here. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $27,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #10 spot for music value this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music graduates is $23,946. Early-career music graduates make about $22,533. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Capital University earned the #11 position for value in music this year. Located in the suburb of Columbus, Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $43,234 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $33,143. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Cedarville University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value music schools. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,150 in tuition and fees. Music graduates carry a median of $22,110 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $57,104. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cedarville University admits about 65% of applicants.
Baldwin Wallace College earned the #13 position for value in music this year. Set in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,832. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music program here. Music graduates of Baldwin Wallace College earn a median of $46,668 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Miami University Oxford earned the #14 position for value in music this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $19,353. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Cleveland Institute Of Music earned the #15 position for value in music this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland Institute Of Music is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $52,880. Music graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Music graduates of Cleveland Institute Of Music earn a median of $19,558 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 47%.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #16 spot for music value this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete the music program here. Music graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $74,459 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,106 median debt. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Oberlin College came in at #17 for value in music this year. Located in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,366 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,200 to complete the music program here. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Oberlin College generally make around $17,141. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oberlin College admits about 34% of applicants.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 51 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong music education at a price that pays off.
