[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 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.
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.
University Of Central Arkansas tops our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools in Arkansas. Set in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,523, while out-of-state students pay about $18,023. Students borrow a median of $29,139 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of University Of Central Arkansas earn a median of $36,465 early in their careers. Set against $29,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Henderson State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music performance, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Arkadelphia, Henderson State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,244, with out-of-state students paying around $10,620. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $23,234 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Henderson State University generally make around $40,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Arkansas came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,966. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of Arkansas generally make around $38,811. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Arkansas admits about 74% of applicants.
More Music Performance Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
