2026 Best Value Music Therapy Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Music Therapy](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/music-therapy/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 24 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value music therapy schools.
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2026 Best Value Music Therapy Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music therapy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Music Therapy Schools
Our analysis ranked Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis the best value for a degree in music therapy in the Great Lakes Region. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Typical student debt for music therapy graduates is $22,937. Soon after graduation, music therapy degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $55,713. That is a strong return on a $22,937 median debt. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cleveland State University earned it the #2 place for music therapy. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Students borrow a median of $26,336 to complete the music therapy program here. Early-career music therapy graduates make about $66,152. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Eastern Michigan University one of the best values for music therapy. Eastern Michigan University is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,990. Typical student debt for music therapy graduates is $27,425. Early-career music therapy graduates make about $43,271. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value music therapy schools. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Students borrow a median of $26,668 to complete the music therapy program here. Early-career music therapy graduates make about $60,669. That is a strong return on a $26,668 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Indianapolis came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value music therapy schools. University Of Indianapolis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Students from in state pay about $37,200 in tuition and fees. Music Therapy graduates carry a median of $26,699 in student loans. Early-career music therapy graduates make about $70,588. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
University Of Evansville came in at #6 for value in music therapy this year. Located in the city of Evansville, University Of Evansville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,172. Typical student debt for music therapy graduates is $25,234. Early-career music therapy graduates make about $74,335. Set against $25,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for music therapy value this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the music therapy program here. Music Therapy graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $75,234 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Indiana Wesleyan University landed the #8 spot for music therapy value this year. Located in the town of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $32,352 in tuition and fees. Music Therapy graduates carry a median of $25,606 in student loans. Early-career music therapy graduates make about $48,109. Set against $25,606 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana Wesleyan University admits about 89% of applicants.
Carroll University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value music therapy schools. Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waukesha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,890. Music Therapy graduates carry a median of $26,904 in student loans. Early-career music therapy graduates make about $71,185. That is a strong return on a $26,904 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Concordia University Wisconsin placed #10 among the best values for music therapy. Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mequon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,470. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete the music therapy program here. Music Therapy graduates of Concordia University Wisconsin earn a median of $58,227 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,875 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Dayton ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value music therapy schools. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,140. Music Therapy graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans. Music Therapy graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of $71,505 early in their careers. Set against $25,033 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Saint Mary Of The Woods College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value music therapy schools. Saint Mary Of The Woods College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Saint Mary of the Woods. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,240. Typical student debt for music therapy graduates is $30,915. Soon after graduation, music therapy degree recipients from Saint Mary Of The Woods College generally make around $39,859. That is a strong return on a $30,915 median debt. Saint Mary Of The Woods College admits about 72% of applicants.
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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 · 24 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.
