2026 Best Value Music History Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[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 24 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music history students.
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2026 Best Value Music History Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music history, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Music History Schools
Leading the list is Cuny Hunter College, our #1 best value for music history in the Middle Atlantic Region. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Music History graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. Early-career music history graduates make about $33,384. Set against $11,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Delaware earned it the #2 place for music history. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,810 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,400. Students borrow a median of $25,334 to complete the music history program here. Early-career music history graduates make about $54,155. That is a strong return on a $25,334 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Johns Hopkins University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music history, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. 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 $23,620. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Suny College At Potsdam one of the best values for music history. Set in the town of Potsdam, Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,768, compared with $18,678 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $27,000. 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.
University At Buffalo came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value music history schools. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $22,232. Music History graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,232 median debt. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Stony Brook University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value music history schools. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $20,537. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $60,047. That is a strong return on a $20,537 median debt. The acceptance rate is 49%.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania came in at #7 for value in music history this year. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,775, compared with $22,599 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,258 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Rider University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value music history schools. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,120. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $27,000. Music History graduates of Rider University earn a median of $26,943 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Rider University admits about 79% of applicants.
Five Towns College came in at #9 for value in music history this year. Located in the suburb of Dix Hills, Five Towns College is a small private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $30,250 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $27,750. Music History graduates of Five Towns College earn a median of $25,554 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,750 median debt. Five Towns College admits about 54% of applicants.
Temple University placed #10 among the best values for music history. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $24,000. Music History graduates of Temple University earn a median of $20,667 early in their careers. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Rochester placed #11 among the best values for music history. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,080. Music History graduates carry a median of $26,769 in student loans. Early-career music history graduates make about $60,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Philadelphia Biblical University Langhorne came in at #12 for value in music history this year. Set in the suburb of Langhorne, Philadelphia Biblical University Langhorne is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,659. Music History graduates carry a median of $28,212 in student loans. Music History graduates of Philadelphia Biblical University Langhorne earn a median of $40,120 early in their careers. Set against $28,212 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Nazareth College landed the #13 spot for music history value this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Nazareth College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,210. Music History graduates carry a median of $26,185 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from Nazareth College generally make around $44,626. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Bard College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value music history schools. Set in the rural area of Annandale-On-Hudson, Bard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $66,436. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $26,402. Early-career music history graduates make about $30,660. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value music history schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Catholic University Of America ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value music history schools. Located in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,378. Music History graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans. Early-career music history graduates make about $65,120. That is a strong return on a $24,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Skidmore College placed #17 among the best values for music history. Skidmore College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,140. Students borrow a median of $18,274 to complete the music history program here. Music History graduates of Skidmore College earn a median of $34,440 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Skidmore College admits about 21% of applicants.
Syracuse University landed the #18 spot for music history value this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,528 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $26,130. Early-career music history graduates make about $18,574. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
The New School ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value music history schools. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,730. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the music history program here. Early-career music history graduates make about $15,510. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.