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Featured Conducting 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 Conducting Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in conducting, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Conducting Schools
For return on investment in conducting, no school beat Rice University this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Conducting graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans. Conducting graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value conducting schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $16,481. Conducting graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $65,681 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Cuny Queens College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in conducting, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,538, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. Students borrow a median of $12,157 to complete the conducting program here. Early-career conducting graduates make about $27,902. Set against $12,157 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value conducting schools. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Conducting graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Conducting graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $15,670 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Missouri Kansas City one of the best values for conducting. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $23,089. Conducting graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $22,315 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
ADBLOCK #101
University Of North Florida earned the #6 position for value in conducting this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,964, compared with $19,407 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,188 to complete the conducting program here. Conducting graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $24,405 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 53%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #7 position for value in conducting this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Conducting graduates carry a median of $19,397 in student loans. Conducting graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $22,272 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #8 for value in conducting this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. Conducting graduates carry a median of $10,460 in student loans. Early-career conducting graduates make about $22,625. Set against $10,460 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
University Of Northern Iowa placed #9 among the best values for conducting. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $19,500. Conducting graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $32,175 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #10 for value in conducting this year. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Conducting graduates carry a median of $24,850 in student loans. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $41,256. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Southern Maine earned the #11 position for value in conducting this year. Located in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,090, compared with $29,940 for out-of-state students. Conducting graduates carry a median of $23,593 in student loans. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from University Of Southern Maine generally make around $47,003. Set against $23,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Wichita State University placed #12 among the best values for conducting. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,684, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $24,262. Early-career conducting graduates make about $49,278. Set against $24,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Portland State University came in at #13 for value in conducting this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,118, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Students borrow a median of $27,846 to complete the conducting program here. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $17,638. Set against $27,846 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music landed the #14 spot for conducting value this year. Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music is a small public school located in the city of San Juan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,370, while out-of-state students pay about $3,850. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $12,250. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music generally make around $5,005. Set against $12,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Johns Hopkins University earned the #15 position for value in conducting this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $23,250. Early-career conducting graduates make about $84,850. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
Central Michigan University came in at #16 for value in conducting this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Conducting graduates carry a median of $27,975 in student loans. Conducting graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $50,688 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #17 for value in conducting this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the conducting program here. Conducting graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $39,564 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Winthrop University earned the #18 position for value in conducting this year. Set in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,678, compared with $28,676 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from Winthrop University generally make around $39,378. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Winthrop University admits about 79% of applicants.
Western Michigan University came in at #19 for value in conducting this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Conducting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Conducting graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $24,775 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
University Of Central Oklahoma ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value conducting schools. Set in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,818 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,704. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete the conducting program here. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from University Of Central Oklahoma generally make around $19,162. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Michigan State University placed #21 among the best values for conducting. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the conducting program here. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $38,656. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Boise State University placed #22 among the best values for conducting. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,048, with out-of-state students paying around $27,788. Students borrow a median of $24,311 to complete the conducting program here. Early-career conducting graduates make about $49,059. That is a strong return on a $24,311 median debt. Boise State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #23 for value in conducting this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Conducting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career conducting graduates make about $36,252. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #24 for value in conducting this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Conducting graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $24,340. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Houghton College earned the #25 position for value in conducting this year. Located in the rural area of Houghton, Houghton College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,430. Typical student debt for conducting graduates is $24,725. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from Houghton College generally make around $26,934. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Conducting Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s conducting value ranking:
Other Conducting Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Conducting rankings across degree levels:
[Conducting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/conducting/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong conducting education at a price that pays off.
