[Music Performance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-performance/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 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.
For return on investment in music performance, no school beat Old Dominion University this year. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,750 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the music performance program here. Music Performance graduates of Old Dominion University earn a median of $57,131 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in music performance will find it at Norfolk State University, which ranked #2. Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Norfolk. Students from in state pay about $10,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,682 for out-of-state students. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Norfolk State University generally make around $54,971. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in music performance will find it at George Mason University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Students borrow a median of $24,048 to complete the music performance program here. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $34,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Virginia Commonwealth University earned it the #4 place for music performance. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $28,989. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at James Madison University earned it the #5 place for music performance. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,966, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $20,968 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $36,106. Set against $20,968 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University came in at #6 for value in music performance this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music performance graduates is $27,000. Early-career music performance graduates make about $33,956. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Shenandoah University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value music performance schools. Located in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,950. Music Performance graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Early-career music performance graduates make about $62,948. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Shenandoah University admits about 77% 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. 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
