[Brass Instruments](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/brass-instruments/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for brass instruments students.
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Finding the Best Value Brass Instruments School for You
The brass instruments program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we built our Best Value Brass Instruments Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Brass Instruments Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Our analysis ranked Rice University the best value for a degree in brass instruments in the United States. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,247. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete the brass instruments program here. Early-career brass instruments graduates make about $30,454. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Students looking for strong value in brass instruments will find it at University Of Washington Seattle Campus, which ranked #2. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the brass instruments program here. Brass Instruments graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $65,681 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Indiana University Bloomington is a great value for students pursuing a degree in brass instruments, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $20,769 in student loans. Brass Instruments graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $28,328 early in their careers. Set against $20,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value brass instruments schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career brass instruments graduates make about $77,997. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music earned it the #5 place for brass instruments. Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music is a small public school located in the city of San Juan. Students from in state pay about $3,370 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $3,850. Students borrow a median of $12,250 to complete the brass instruments program here. Soon after graduation, brass instruments degree recipients from Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music generally make around $5,005. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Kentucky landed the #6 spot for brass instruments value this year. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, brass instruments degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $30,818. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Liberty University came in at #7 for value in brass instruments this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Brass Instruments graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $33,956 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
Roosevelt University came in at #8 for value in brass instruments this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,315. Students borrow a median of $27,750 to complete the brass instruments program here. Early-career brass instruments graduates make about $29,974. That is a strong return on a $27,750 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Hartford landed the #9 spot for brass instruments value this year. Located in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,075. Typical student debt for brass instruments graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, brass instruments degree recipients from University Of Hartford generally make around $26,775. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Southern California came in at #10 for value in brass instruments this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $20,976 in student loans. Soon after graduation, brass instruments degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $23,244. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Ithaca College landed the #11 spot for brass instruments value this year. Set in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,616. Typical student debt for brass instruments graduates is $27,000. Early-career brass instruments graduates make about $38,328. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ithaca College admits about 69% of applicants.
The Juilliard School came in at #12 for value in brass instruments this year. The Juilliard School is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $57,950 in tuition and fees. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Brass Instruments graduates of The Juilliard School earn a median of $14,101 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
San Francisco Conservatory Of Music landed the #13 spot for brass instruments value this year. San Francisco Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. In-state tuition and fees average $56,150. Typical student debt for brass instruments graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, brass instruments degree recipients from San Francisco Conservatory Of Music generally make around $32,882. San Francisco Conservatory Of Music admits about 55% of applicants.
Los Angeles Music Academy landed the #14 spot for brass instruments value this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Los Angeles Music Academy is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $29,190. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $37,296 in student loans. Soon after graduation, brass instruments degree recipients from Los Angeles Music Academy generally make around $24,059. Set against $37,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Los Angeles Music Academy admits about 88% of applicants.
The New England Conservatory Of Music earned the #15 position for value in brass instruments this year. Set in the city of Boston, The New England Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,750. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $26,991 in student loans. Soon after graduation, brass instruments degree recipients from The New England Conservatory Of Music generally make around $24,499. Set against $26,991 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The New England Conservatory Of Music admits about 41% of applicants.
Longy School Of Music Of Bard College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value brass instruments schools. Longy School Of Music Of Bard College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,275. Brass Instruments graduates of Longy School Of Music Of Bard College earn a median of $30,660 early in their careers.
Manhattan School Of Music came in at #17 for value in brass instruments this year. Located in the city of New York, Manhattan School Of Music is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $57,050. Brass Instruments graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Brass Instruments graduates of Manhattan School Of Music earn a median of $18,441 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 18 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).
[Brass Instruments](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/brass-instruments/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
