by our College Data Analytics Team
[Music History](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-history/) 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 73 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music history students.
What’s on this page:
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music history degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Rice University, our #1 best value for music history in the United States. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Music History graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans. Early-career music history graduates make about $75,299. That is a strong return on a $11,904 median debt. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
Cuny Hunter College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value music history schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $11,091. Early-career music history graduates make about $33,384. That is a strong return on a $11,091 median debt. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music history, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $16,481. Music History 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. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value music history schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,089 to complete the music history program here. Music History 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. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value music history schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Music History graduates carry a median of $23,119 in student loans. Early-career music history graduates make about $63,833. That is a strong return on a $23,119 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
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West Virginia University earned the #6 position for value in music history this year. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Music History graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Music History graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $26,011 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Youngstown State University landed the #7 spot for music history value this year. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Music History graduates carry a median of $26,373 in student loans. Music History graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $49,025 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,373 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #8 position for value in music history 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. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $19,397. Early-career music history graduates make about $22,272. That is a strong return on a $19,397 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Iowa ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value music history schools. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Music History graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $32,175. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Idaho earned the #10 position for value in music history this year. Located in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,084, while out-of-state students pay about $28,320. Music History graduates carry a median of $23,844 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from University Of Idaho generally make around $43,246. Set against $23,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Idaho admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Delaware came in at #11 for value in music history this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,810, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. Music History graduates carry a median of $25,334 in student loans. Music History graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $54,155 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Delaware admits about 71% of applicants.
University Of Kentucky ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value music history schools. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $23,000. Music History graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $17,040 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #13 position for value in music history this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Music History graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career music history graduates make about $58,088. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Johns Hopkins University placed #14 among the best values for music history. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Students from in state pay about $64,730 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $16,479. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
Suny College At Potsdam earned the #15 position for value in music history this year. Located in the town of Potsdam, Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,768, while out-of-state students pay about $18,678. Music History graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from Suny College At Potsdam generally make around $23,902. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Western Washington University earned the #16 position for value in music history this year. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,582 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,707. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $20,055. Music History graduates of Western Washington University earn a median of $15,834 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Texas Tech University placed #17 among the best values for music history. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Music History graduates carry a median of $27,816 in student loans. Early-career music history graduates make about $49,906. That is a strong return on a $27,816 median debt. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value music history schools. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Music History graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Music History graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $24,340 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #19 for value in music history this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Music History graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career music history graduates make about $49,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University At Buffalo came in at #20 for value in music history 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, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Music History graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans. Early-career music history graduates make about $52,403. Set against $22,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #21 spot for music history value this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $17,288. Early-career music history graduates make about $32,416. Set against $17,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania came in at #22 for value in music history this year. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,775, with out-of-state students paying around $22,599. Median earnings reach $61,258 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 78%.
The University Of Alabama came in at #23 for value in music history this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Music History graduates carry a median of $25,675 in student loans. Early-career music history graduates make about $50,740. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #24 position for value in music history this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music history program here. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $20,632. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Connecticut landed the #25 spot for music history value this year. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,044 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $43,712. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $58,784. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s music history value ranking:
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Explore the best-value music history schools at other degree levels:
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 · 73 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
