2026 Best Value General Music Schools in Kentucky
[General Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/general-music/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general music education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for general music students.
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Featured General Music Programs
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2026 Best Value General Music Schools in Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general music, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Music Schools
Murray State University tops our 2026 list of the best value general music schools in Kentucky. Murray State University is a large public school located in the town of Murray. Students from in state pay about $9,900 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,731 to complete the general music program here. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Murray State University generally make around $34,098. That is a strong return on a $26,731 median debt. Murray State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Eastern Kentucky University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general music, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $20,379. General Music graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $30,106 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,379 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Morehead State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general music schools. Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Morehead. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,024, compared with $14,980 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general music graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Morehead State University generally make around $31,088. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Kentucky came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general music schools. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. General Music graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Early-career general music graduates make about $30,818. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Louisville is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general music, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,136 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. Students borrow a median of $20,745 to complete the general music program here. Early-career general music graduates make about $19,816. That is a strong return on a $20,745 median debt. University Of Louisville admits about 79% of applicants.
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 · 17 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.
