[Music Performance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-performance/) 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 30 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music performance students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music performance, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in music performance, no school beat Youngstown State University this year. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,926 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,286. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $26,373 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $34,657. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $35,209. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $25,836 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $49,077 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Students looking for strong value in music performance will find it at Ohio University Main Campus, which ranked #4. 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. Music Performance graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $34,193 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Kent State University At Kent one of the best values for music performance. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $24,340. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $27,559. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #7 among the best values for music performance. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. 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. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Capital University placed #8 among the best values for music performance. Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $43,234. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $27,000. Music Performance graduates of Capital University earn a median of $33,143 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Capital University admits about 70% of applicants.
Cedarville University earned the #9 position for value in music performance this year. Located in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $37,150 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $22,110. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $57,104. That is a strong return on a $22,110 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Baldwin Wallace College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Located in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,832. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Baldwin Wallace College generally make around $46,668. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Miami University Oxford landed the #11 spot for music performance value this year. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, compared with $38,965 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 $19,353. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% of applicants.
Cleveland Institute Of Music landed the #12 spot for music performance value this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland Institute Of Music is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $52,880. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $19,558. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 47%.
Oberlin College came in at #13 for value in music performance this year. Located in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,366. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $26,200. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Oberlin College generally make around $17,141. That is a strong return on a $26,200 median debt. Oberlin College admits about 34% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
