2026 Best Value Music Education Schools in Virginia
[Music Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/music-education/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value music education schools.
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Featured Music Education Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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2026 Best Value Music Education Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Music Education Schools
Our analysis ranked George Mason University the best value for a degree in music education in Virginia. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Music Education graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Early-career music education graduates make about $51,115. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Old Dominion University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $25,000. Early-career music education graduates make about $44,883. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Averett University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Danville, Averett University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,550 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,595 to complete the music education program here. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Averett University generally make around $53,876. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Shenandoah University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $36,950. Typical student debt for music education graduates is $27,000. Early-career music education graduates make about $51,601. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
More Music Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
