2026 Best Value General Music Schools in New York
[General Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/general-music/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 51 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general music students.
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2026 Best Value General Music Schools in New York
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general music degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Music Schools
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College tops our 2026 list of the best value general music schools in New York. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,464 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,414 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $11,691. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $61,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Brooklyn College earned it the #2 place for general music. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Students borrow a median of $13,303 to complete the general music program here. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $16,996. That is a strong return on a $13,303 median debt. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny City College earned it the #3 place for general music. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $20,000. General Music graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $19,145 early in their careers. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general music will find it at Suffolk County Community College, which ranked #4. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $11,246. General Music graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,246 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Cuny York College one of the best values for general music. Set in the city of Jamaica, Cuny York College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,358 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,308. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $12,573. Early-career general music graduates make about $49,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College came in at #6 for value in general music this year. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $5,170 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,050 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $8,794. General Music graduates of Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earn a median of $30,111 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,794 median debt.
Schenectady County Community College came in at #7 for value in general music this year. Set in the city of Schenectady, Schenectady County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,190 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,974. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,902.
Suny College At Potsdam earned the #8 position for value in general music this year. Located in the town of Potsdam, Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,768, compared with $18,678 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $27,000. Early-career general music graduates make about $23,902. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Suny College At Oswego placed #9 among the best values for general music. Set in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,825, with out-of-state students paying around $18,735. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $25,163. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Suny College At Oswego generally make around $41,899. Set against $25,163 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Oswego admits about 80% of applicants.
Stony Brook University earned the #10 position for value in general music this year. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $20,537. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $34,264. Set against $20,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
State University Of New York At New Paltz placed #11 among the best values for general music. Set in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,822. General Music graduates carry a median of $21,530 in student loans. Early-career general music graduates make about $17,406. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #12 for value in general music this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. General Music graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $32,924. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University At Buffalo landed the #13 spot for general music value this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $22,232. General Music graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Purchase College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value general music schools. Located in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,016, while out-of-state students pay about $19,266. Students borrow a median of $22,179 to complete the general music program here. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Suny At Purchase College generally make around $22,569. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny At Purchase College admits about 74% of applicants.
Suny At Binghamton ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value general music schools. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,567, while out-of-state students pay about $30,447. Students borrow a median of $20,691 to complete the general music program here. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $51,766. Set against $20,691 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Houghton College earned the #16 position for value in general music this year. Houghton College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Houghton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,430. Students borrow a median of $24,725 to complete the general music program here. General Music graduates of Houghton College earn a median of $26,934 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rochester landed the #17 spot for general music value this year. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,080. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $26,769. Early-career general music graduates make about $27,409. That is a strong return on a $26,769 median debt. University Of Rochester admits about 40% of applicants.
Nazareth College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value general music schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Nazareth College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,210. General Music graduates carry a median of $26,185 in student loans. General Music graduates of Nazareth College earn a median of $44,626 early in their careers. Set against $26,185 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Ithaca College placed #19 among the best values for general music. 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 general music graduates is $27,000. General Music graduates of Ithaca College earn a median of $23,119 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ithaca College admits about 69% of applicants.
New York University placed #20 among the best values for general music. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $25,000. General Music graduates of New York University earn a median of $28,287 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Hofstra University placed #21 among the best values for general music. Set in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,660. General Music graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. General Music graduates of Hofstra University earn a median of $15,592 early in their careers. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Syracuse University earned the #22 position for value in general music this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Students borrow a median of $26,130 to complete the general music program here. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $18,574. Set against $26,130 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
More General Music Rankings
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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 · 51 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
