2026 Best Value Music History Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Music History](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-history/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music history students.
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2026 Best Value Music History Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music history, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Music History Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Michigan Ann Arbor the best value for a degree in music history in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Music History graduates carry a median of $19,397 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $29,641. That is a strong return on a $19,397 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in music history will find it at Youngstown State University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Students borrow a median of $26,373 to complete the music history program here. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $49,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio State University Main Campus earned it the #3 place for music history. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $27,000. Early-career music history graduates make about $58,088. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music history, landing the #4 spot this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the music history program here. Music History graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $24,340 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Ohio University Main Campus one of the best values for music history. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music history program here. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #6 for value in music history this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Music History graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career music history graduates make about $27,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #7 for value in music history this year. Located in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,546. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $24,556. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $26,540. Set against $24,556 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Baldwin Wallace College earned the #8 position for value in music history this year. Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Berea. Students from in state pay about $39,832 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music history program here. Early-career music history graduates make about $46,668. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Case Western Reserve University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value music history schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $66,608 in tuition and fees. Music History graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $74,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 36%.
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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 · 13 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.