[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.
College Factual analyzed 7 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.
Morehead State University tops our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools in Kentucky. Located in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, compared with $14,980 for out-of-state students. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $31,088. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Western Kentucky University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Students borrow a median of $24,317 to complete the music performance program here. Early-career music performance graduates make about $34,766. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Kentucky earned it the #3 place for music performance. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $30,818. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.
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 · 7 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.
