[Music Performance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-performance/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong music performance education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 33 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value music performance schools.
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Featured Music Performance Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
MBA in Music Business
Earn the music business degree that fits into the business world – and partners Southern New Hampshire University with world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music performance degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in music performance, no school beat California State University Fullerton this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Students borrow a median of $20,469 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $23,969. That is a strong return on a $20,469 median debt. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
California State University Los Angeles is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music performance, landing the #2 spot this year. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $12,500. Music Performance graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $21,509 early in their careers. Set against $12,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in music performance will find it at Fresno City College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Students borrow a median of $7,234 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $37,470 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Fresno came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,341, compared with $19,941 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $49,502. Set against $15,598 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Fresno admits about 95% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Northridge earned it the #5 place for music performance. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,458, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Students borrow a median of $15,933 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $28,106. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
California State University Long Beach placed #6 among the best values for music performance. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Students borrow a median of $20,550 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $21,916. Set against $20,550 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
California State University Sacramento ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. In-state tuition and fees average $8,018, while out-of-state students pay about $20,618. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $16,500. Early-career music performance graduates make about $25,391. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California San Diego ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Students borrow a median of $18,938 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $21,592 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,938 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
University Of California Irvine ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Students borrow a median of $16,539 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $50,958. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 29%.
San Jose State University came in at #10 for value in music performance this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 85%.
San Francisco State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,846, while out-of-state students pay about $20,446. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $15,000. Early-career music performance graduates make about $31,621. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #12 position for value in music performance this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Students borrow a median of $23,119 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $18,823. Set against $23,119 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
San Diego State University placed #13 among the best values for music performance. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,728, with out-of-state students paying around $21,328. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $15,131 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $20,440. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Santa Cruz placed #14 among the best values for music performance. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,035, compared with $46,923 for out-of-state students. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $18,559 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of University Of California Santa Cruz earn a median of $40,920 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,559 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Redlands came in at #15 for value in music performance this year. University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Redlands. Students from in state pay about $60,878 in tuition and fees. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of University Of Redlands earn a median of $57,218 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Redlands admits about 83% of applicants.
University Of The Pacific earned the #16 position for value in music performance this year. Located in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,080. Students borrow a median of $26,017 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of University Of The Pacific earn a median of $77,022 early in their careers. Set against $26,017 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
California Baptist University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Located in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $41,228 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $28,169. Early-career music performance graduates make about $51,999. That is a strong return on a $28,169 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Biola University earned the #18 position for value in music performance this year. Set in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $48,984. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $26,417. Early-career music performance graduates make about $19,978. That is a strong return on a $26,417 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Southern California ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $20,976. Early-career music performance graduates make about $23,244. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Musicians Institute earned the #20 position for value in music performance this year. Set in the city of Hollywood, Musicians Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $32,414 in tuition and fees. Median earnings reach $32,778 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 78%.
California Institute Of The Arts placed #21 among the best values for music performance. Set in the suburb of Valencia, California Institute Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,996. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $23,125. Music Performance graduates of California Institute Of The Arts earn a median of $18,373 early in their careers. Set against $23,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 32% of applicants are accepted.
Chapman University came in at #22 for value in music performance this year. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,984. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $50,947 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
