2026 Best Value Music Education Schools in Ohio
[Music Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/music-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 32 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music education students.
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2026 Best Value Music Education Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Music Education Schools
College Of Mount St Joseph earned the #1 spot for value among music education schools in Ohio. Located in the suburb of Cincinnati, College Of Mount St Joseph is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,150 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,273 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from College Of Mount St Joseph generally make around $69,964. That is a strong return on a $28,273 median debt. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Youngstown State University earned it the #2 place for music education. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, while out-of-state students pay about $10,286. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $26,751. Music Education graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $33,398 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,751 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wright State University Main Campus earned it the #3 place for music education. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, while out-of-state students pay about $20,691. Music Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $43,003. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Akron Main Campus one of the best values for music education. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $27,000. Early-career music education graduates make about $39,613. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in music education will find it at Ohio State University Main Campus, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Music Education graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $49,282. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #6 position for value in music education this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $26,750. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $47,727. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for music education value this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Students borrow a median of $26,642 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $46,368. Set against $26,642 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Muskingum University earned the #8 position for value in music education this year. Muskingum University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of New Concord. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,701. Students borrow a median of $26,932 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Muskingum University earn a median of $39,918 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,932 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Heidelberg University earned the #9 position for value in music education this year. Heidelberg University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Tiffin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,600. Music Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Heidelberg University generally make around $42,334. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Ashland University landed the #10 spot for music education value this year. Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ashland. In-state tuition and fees average $31,210. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $27,000. Music Education graduates of Ashland University earn a median of $44,979 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University came in at #11 for value in music education this year. Located in the town of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,193 in tuition and fees. Music Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Mount Vernon Nazarene University generally make around $32,508. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value music education schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $23,000. Early-career music education graduates make about $41,843. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Capital University landed the #13 spot for music education value this year. Located in the suburb of Columbus, Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,234. Music Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Capital University generally make around $32,597. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio Northern University placed #14 among the best values for music education. Ohio Northern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ada. Students from in state pay about $39,600 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $26,661. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Ohio Northern University generally make around $56,878. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Cedarville University came in at #15 for value in music education this year. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,150. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $38,378. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Baldwin Wallace College placed #16 among the best values for music education. Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Berea. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,832. Music Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Music Education graduates of Baldwin Wallace College earn a median of $44,216 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford placed #17 among the best values for music education. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,519 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Music Education graduates carry a median of $24,560 in student loans. Music Education graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $46,681 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,560 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rio Grande earned the #18 position for value in music education this year. Set in the rural area of Rio Grande, University Of Rio Grande is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,560. Students borrow a median of $27,044 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $46,611. That is a strong return on a $27,044 median debt.
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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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
