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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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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music performance, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Chicago, our #1 best value for music performance in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $61,829 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Illinois University earned it the #2 place for music performance. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,572. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $30,000. Music Performance graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $32,666 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,000 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Millikin University one of the best values for music performance. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $26,792 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,996 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Millikin University generally make around $21,138. That is a strong return on a $26,996 median debt. Millikin University admits about 67% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,532, with out-of-state students paying around $22,887. Students borrow a median of $24,119 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $49,424. That is a strong return on a $24,119 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Youngstown State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $26,373 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $34,657 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,373 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
ADBLOCK #101
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #6 for value in music performance this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $19,397 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $29,641. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Grand Rapids Community College placed #7 among the best values for music performance. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,179 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,219 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $11,780. Music Performance graduates of Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of $41,689 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Illinois University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $29,000. Early-career music performance graduates make about $41,632. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #9 for value in music performance this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $24,625 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $25,536. Set against $24,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #10 for value in music performance this year. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $18,248. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $24,850. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $41,256. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #11 position for value in music performance this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $20,769. Early-career music performance graduates make about $28,328. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Ball State University came in at #12 for value in music performance this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $24,518 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $47,863. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #13 for value in music performance this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $21,813. Music Performance graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $31,552 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #14 among the best values for music performance. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $35,209. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Central Michigan University placed #15 among the best values for music performance. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,975 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $24,911. Set against $27,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Wright State University Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $25,836. Early-career music performance graduates make about $49,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wright State University Main Campus admits about 96% of applicants.
Illinois State University earned the #17 position for value in music performance this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $35,863. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University earned the #18 position for value in music performance this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,990. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $28,781. Music Performance graduates of Eastern Michigan University earn a median of $47,887 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
Western Michigan University earned the #19 position for value in music performance this year. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $27,361 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Michigan State University placed #20 among the best values for music performance. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $26,750. Early-career music performance graduates make about $40,570. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #21 position for value in music performance this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $34,193. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent placed #22 among the best values for music performance. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $28,000. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $24,340. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #23 position for value in music performance this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $27,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Roosevelt University landed the #24 spot for music performance value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,315. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $27,750. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $29,974. Set against $27,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roosevelt University admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #25 position for value in music performance this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $23,946 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $22,533. Set against $23,946 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
These schools also delivered strong value for music performance this year:
Narrow Music Performance Schools by State
[Music Performance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-performance/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
