[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 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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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 University Of South Florida Main Campus, our #1 best value for music performance in Florida. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $21,829. Music Performance graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $52,885 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Florida Gulf Coast University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music performance, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,015 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $50,726. Set against $20,015 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida Gulf Coast University admits about 63% of applicants.
University Of North Florida came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,964, compared with $19,407 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,188 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $24,405. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Florida admits about 53% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in music performance will find it at University Of Central Florida, which ranked #4. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Students borrow a median of $20,567 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $21,957 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Florida State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music performance, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Students borrow a median of $23,992 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $26,311. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
Stetson University landed the #6 spot for music performance value this year. Stetson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of DeLand. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,410. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $26,548 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Stetson University generally make around $15,905. That is a strong return on a $26,548 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Jacksonville University earned the #7 position for value in music performance this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Jacksonville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,150. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of Jacksonville University earn a median of $21,219 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Jacksonville University admits about 57% of applicants.
Florida Southern College came in at #8 for value in music performance this year. Florida Southern College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lakeland. Students from in state pay about $44,040 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,357 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $48,665. That is a strong return on a $25,357 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tampa landed the #9 spot for music performance value this year. Located in the city of Tampa, The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,408. Students borrow a median of $25,191 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $45,401. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
University Of Miami landed the #10 spot for music performance value this year. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,616. Students borrow a median of $13,998 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $23,991. That is a strong return on a $13,998 median debt. The acceptance rate is 19%.
Lynn University landed the #11 spot for music performance value this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Lynn University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $44,480 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,391 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $50,569. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lynn University 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
