2026 Best Value Music Therapy Schools in the Southeast Region
[Music Therapy](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/music-therapy/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 17 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 Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music therapy degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Music Therapy Schools
Florida State University tops our 2026 list of the best value music therapy schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Music Therapy graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music therapy degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $43,422. That is a strong return on a $20,488 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
A rank of #2 makes Florida Gulf Coast University one of the best values for music therapy. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music therapy graduates is $20,015. Soon after graduation, music therapy degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $72,862. That is a strong return on a $20,015 median debt. Florida Gulf Coast University admits about 63% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Kentucky earned it the #3 place for music therapy. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete the music therapy program here. Soon after graduation, music therapy degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $67,402. Set against $24,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
A rank of #4 makes William Carey University one of the best values for music therapy. Located in the city of Hattiesburg, William Carey University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Music Therapy graduates carry a median of $25,079 in student loans. Music Therapy graduates of William Carey University earn a median of $46,292 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,079 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Louisville one of the best values for music therapy. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,136, compared with $29,482 for out-of-state students. Music Therapy graduates carry a median of $21,910 in student loans. Music Therapy graduates of University Of Louisville earn a median of $58,534 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,910 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia College And State University placed #6 among the best values for music therapy. Set in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,186 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music therapy graduates is $24,412. Early-career music therapy graduates make about $51,197. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia College And State University admits about 78% of applicants.
Shenandoah University placed #7 among the best values for music therapy. Set in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $36,950. Typical student debt for music therapy graduates is $26,005. Soon after graduation, music therapy degree recipients from Shenandoah University generally make around $73,888. That is a strong return on a $26,005 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Belmont University landed the #8 spot for music therapy value this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,540. Students borrow a median of $23,447 to complete the music therapy program here. Soon after graduation, music therapy degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $73,552. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami placed #9 among the best values for music therapy. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,616. Music Therapy graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Music Therapy graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $73,125 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. University Of Miami admits about 19% of applicants.
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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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
