[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 36 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music performance students.
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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.
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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.
Leading the list is Cuny Hunter College, our #1 best value for music performance in New York. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $33,384 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,091 median debt. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in music performance will find it at Cuny Brooklyn College, which ranked #2. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Students borrow a median of $13,303 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $16,996. Set against $13,303 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Cuny City College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,340, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $20,000. Music Performance graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $53,154 early in their careers. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Queens College earned it the #4 place for music performance. Cuny Queens College is a very large public school located in the city of Queens. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $12,157 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $27,902. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Queens College admits about 64% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in music performance will find it at Schenectady County Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Schenectady, Schenectady County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,190 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,974. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,902.
Onondaga Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Onondaga Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Syracuse. Students from in state pay about $6,102 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,392. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Onondaga Community College earn a median of $35,781 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Suny At Fredonia landed the #7 spot for music performance value this year. Set in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,831 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,771 for out-of-state students. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Suny At Fredonia generally make around $35,849. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Suny At Fredonia admits about 78% of applicants.
Suny College At Potsdam came in at #8 for value in music performance this year. Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Potsdam. Students from in state pay about $8,768 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,678 for out-of-state students. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Suny College At Potsdam generally make around $23,902. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Stony Brook University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $20,537. Music Performance graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $34,264 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 49%.
University At Buffalo placed #10 among the best values for music performance. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $52,403. That is a strong return on a $22,232 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Purchase College earned the #11 position for value in music performance this year. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,016, with out-of-state students paying around $19,266. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $22,179. Music Performance graduates of Suny At Purchase College earn a median of $22,569 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,179 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Binghamton earned the #12 position for value in music performance this year. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,567 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,447. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $20,691. Early-career music performance graduates make about $51,766. That is a strong return on a $20,691 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Houghton College earned the #13 position for value in music performance this year. Located in the rural area of Houghton, Houghton College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,430. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $24,725 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Houghton College earn a median of $26,934 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,725 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Five Towns College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Located in the suburb of Dix Hills, Five Towns College is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,250. Students borrow a median of $27,750 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Five Towns College generally make around $25,315. Set against $27,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
Long Island University C W Post Campus landed the #15 spot for music performance value this year. Set in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,432. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $25,211 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $61,547. That is a strong return on a $25,211 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rochester ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,080. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $26,769. Early-career music performance graduates make about $27,409. That is a strong return on a $26,769 median debt. University Of Rochester admits about 40% of applicants.
Nazareth College placed #17 among the best values for music performance. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Nazareth College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,210. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $26,185 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $44,626. That is a strong return on a $26,185 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Bard College placed #18 among the best values for music performance. Located in the rural area of Annandale-On-Hudson, Bard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $66,436 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $26,402. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Bard College generally make around $30,660. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Ithaca College landed the #19 spot for music performance value this year. Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ithaca. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,616. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Ithaca College generally make around $23,119. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
New York University earned the #20 position for value in music performance this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $25,000. Early-career music performance graduates make about $28,287. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Syracuse University earned the #21 position for value in music performance this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $26,130. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $18,574. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Manhattan School Of Music ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Located in the city of New York, Manhattan School Of Music is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $57,050. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Manhattan School Of Music earn a median of $18,441 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Manhattan School Of Music admits about 41% of applicants.
The New School came in at #23 for value in music performance this year. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,730. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from The New School generally make around $15,510. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
More Music Performance Rankings
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Notes and References
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 · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
