by our College Data Analytics Team
[Music History](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-history/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value music history schools.
What’s on this page:
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Earn the music business degree that fits into the business world – and partners Southern New Hampshire University with world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music history degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in music history, no school beat Rice University this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. Music History graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans. Early-career music history graduates make about $75,299. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Texas Tech University one of the best values for music history. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Students borrow a median of $27,816 to complete the music history program here. Music History graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $39,571 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Methodist University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music history, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,040 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $18,417 to complete the music history program here. Soon after graduation, music history degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $70,632. Set against $18,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Baylor University earned it the #4 place for music history. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $58,100 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music history graduates is $27,000. Early-career music history graduates make about $10,210. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 51%.
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This list is compiled 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
