
[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.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value music performance schools.
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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.
For return on investment in music performance, no school beat Valdosta State University this year. Set in the city of Valdosta, Valdosta State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,124, while out-of-state students pay about $17,836. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $28,661 in student loans. Music Performance graduates of Valdosta State University earn a median of $44,914 early in their careers. Set against $28,661 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Valdosta State University admits about 72% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Georgia one of the best values for music performance. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,344 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $24,514. That is a strong return on a $22,344 median debt. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbus State University earned it the #3 place for music performance. Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,898, with out-of-state students paying around $17,610. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $27,000. Music Performance graduates of Columbus State University earn a median of $51,154 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbus State University admits about 99% of applicants.
Georgia State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music performance, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,664, while out-of-state students pay about $24,840. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $29,304. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in music performance will find it at Kennesaw State University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,808, compared with $17,736 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,400 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Kennesaw State University generally make around $53,824. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Atlanta Institute Of Music And Media landed the #6 spot for music performance value this year. Atlanta Institute Of Music And Media is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Duluth. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $16,507. Music Performance graduates of Atlanta Institute Of Music And Media earn a median of $20,098 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
More Music Performance Rankings
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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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.