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MBA in Music Business
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2026 Best Value Music Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Music Schools
The University Of Tennessee Martin tops our 2026 list of the best value music schools in Tennessee. Located in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,560, while out-of-state students pay about $16,600. Typical student debt for music graduates is $23,770. Music graduates of The University Of Tennessee Martin earn a median of $40,400 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Middle Tennessee State University earned it the #2 place for music. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Music graduates carry a median of $22,608 in student loans. Music graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $27,586 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,608 median debt. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music, landing the #3 spot this year. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public school located in the city of Chattanooga. Students from in state pay about $10,448 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music graduates is $23,324. Music graduates of The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn a median of $50,000 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,324 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Tennessee Technological University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value music schools. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,376, with out-of-state students paying around $15,576. Typical student debt for music graduates is $17,500. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Tennessee Technological University generally make around $44,635. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Students looking for strong value in music will find it at Tennessee State University, which ranked #5. Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $8,616 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,416. Music graduates carry a median of $29,489 in student loans. Music graduates of Tennessee State University earn a median of $23,868 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,489 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Memphis earned the #6 position for value in music this year. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Students borrow a median of $22,060 to complete the music program here. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $37,385. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
Volunteer State Community College placed #7 among the best values for music. Set in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,756, while out-of-state students pay about $17,740. Music graduates carry a median of $12,462 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Volunteer State Community College generally make around $40,137. That is a strong return on a $12,462 median debt.
Austin Peay State University landed the #8 spot for music value this year. Located in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,006, with out-of-state students paying around $14,766. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the music program here. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Austin Peay State University generally make around $39,008. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Austin Peay State University admits about 96% of applicants.
East Tennessee State University landed the #9 spot for music value this year. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. Students from in state pay about $10,216 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the music program here. Music graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $30,004 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #10 position for value in music this year. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Students borrow a median of $23,453 to complete the music program here. Music graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $33,043 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value music schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Music graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $77,997. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Lee University came in at #12 for value in music this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,790. Music graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $38,249. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Lipscomb University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value music schools. Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $40,572 in tuition and fees. Music graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $19,352. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Visible Music College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value music schools. Located in the city of Memphis, Visible Music College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $22,000 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,250 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $25,461. Set against $16,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 28%.
Belmont University came in at #15 for value in music this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $42,540 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,988 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $27,517. Set against $25,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 38 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
