2026 Best Value Music Education Schools in Georgia

[Music Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/music-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong music education education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music education students.
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2026 Best Value Music Education Schools in Georgia
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
For return on investment in music education, no school beat Valdosta State University this year. Valdosta State University is a large public school located in the city of Valdosta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,124, with out-of-state students paying around $17,836. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $28,661. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Valdosta State University generally make around $54,511. That is a strong return on a $28,661 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Students borrow a median of $20,750 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $61,081. Set against $20,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Augusta University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Augusta, Augusta University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,414, compared with $24,734 for out-of-state students. Music Education graduates carry a median of $25,969 in student loans. Music Education graduates of Augusta University earn a median of $54,156 early in their careers. Set against $25,969 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbus State University earned it the #4 place for music education. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,898 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,610. Students borrow a median of $28,040 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Columbus State University generally make around $40,616. That is a strong return on a $28,040 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in music education will find it at Georgia Southern University, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,022, compared with $17,734 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music education program here. Early-career music education graduates make about $41,063. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Kennesaw State University earned the #6 position for value in music education this year. Set in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,808 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,736. Music Education graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $45,243. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Kennesaw State University admits about 69% of applicants.
Georgia College And State University placed #7 among the best values for music education. Located in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,186, compared with $29,512 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,412 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Georgia College And State University earn a median of $52,718 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,412 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Emmanuel College Georgia earned the #8 position for value in music education this year. Set in the rural area of Franklin Springs, Emmanuel College Georgia is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $25,500 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,807 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Emmanuel College Georgia generally make around $30,093. Set against $25,807 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Emmanuel College Georgia admits about 74% of applicants.
Piedmont College landed the #9 spot for music education value this year. Set in the town of Demorest, Piedmont College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,700. Music Education graduates carry a median of $29,975 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Piedmont College generally make around $55,865. Set against $29,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Mercer University came in at #10 for value in music education this year. Set in the city of Macon, Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,565. Music Education graduates carry a median of $32,463 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $56,699. That is a strong return on a $32,463 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Reinhardt University placed #11 among the best values for music education. Located in the rural area of Waleska, Reinhardt University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $30,074. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete the music education program here. Music Education graduates of Reinhardt University earn a median of $40,566 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
More Music Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.