2026 Best Value Musicology & Ethnomusicology Schools

1

Cuny Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY

Cuny Brooklyn College earned the #1 spot for value among musicology & ethnomusicology schools in the United States. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Typical student debt for musicology & ethnomusicology graduates is $13,303. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $40,843 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.

2

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a great value for students pursuing a degree in musicology & ethnomusicology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Typical student debt for musicology & ethnomusicology graduates is $19,000. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $32,880. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.

3

Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Students looking for strong value in musicology & ethnomusicology will find it at Florida State University, which ranked #3. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates carry a median of $23,992 in student loans. Soon after graduation, musicology & ethnomusicology degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $26,311. That is a strong return on a $23,992 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.

4

Rice University
Houston, TX

Students looking for strong value in musicology & ethnomusicology will find it at Rice University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $30,454. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.

5

Cuny Queens College
Queens, NY

Cuny Queens College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in musicology & ethnomusicology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,538, while out-of-state students pay about $15,488. Typical student debt for musicology & ethnomusicology graduates is $12,157. Soon after graduation, musicology & ethnomusicology degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $41,847. Set against $12,157 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.

6

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Greensboro, NC

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #6 for value in musicology & ethnomusicology this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $24,315. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants.

7

University Of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT

University Of Utah earned the #7 position for value in musicology & ethnomusicology this year. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $42,548 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.

8

University Of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

University Of California Los Angeles placed #8 among the best values for musicology & ethnomusicology. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates carry a median of $23,119 in student loans. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $18,823. That is a strong return on a $23,119 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.

9

University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA

University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #9 among the best values for musicology & ethnomusicology. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $65,681. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.

10

West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV

West Virginia University earned the #10 position for value in musicology & ethnomusicology this year. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $26,011. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. West Virginia University admits about 89% of applicants.

11

Columbus State University
Columbus, GA

Columbus State University came in at #11 for value in musicology & ethnomusicology this year. Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Columbus. Students from in state pay about $5,898 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,610. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Musicology & Ethnomusicology 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.

12

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #12 for value in musicology & ethnomusicology this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,397 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $66,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.

13

Brigham Young University Provo
Provo, UT

Brigham Young University Provo landed the #13 spot for musicology & ethnomusicology value this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,688. Students borrow a median of $10,460 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $22,625. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.

14

Portland State University
Portland, OR

Portland State University came in at #14 for value in musicology & ethnomusicology this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. In-state tuition and fees average $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for musicology & ethnomusicology graduates is $27,846. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $47,717 early in their careers. Set against $27,846 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.

15

University Of Maryland College Park
College Park, MD

University Of Maryland College Park landed the #15 spot for musicology & ethnomusicology value this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,809 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Students borrow a median of $21,614 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $52,541. That is a strong return on a $21,614 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.

16

Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ

Northern Arizona University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value musicology & ethnomusicology schools. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates carry a median of $21,645 in student loans. Soon after graduation, musicology & ethnomusicology degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $47,056. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.

17

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Champaign, IL

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #17 spot for musicology & ethnomusicology value this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $25,536 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.

18

Indiana University Bloomington
Bloomington, IN

Indiana University Bloomington placed #18 among the best values for musicology & ethnomusicology. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Typical student debt for musicology & ethnomusicology graduates is $20,769. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $28,328. That is a strong return on a $20,769 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.

19

Suny College At Potsdam
Potsdam, NY

Suny College At Potsdam landed the #19 spot for musicology & ethnomusicology value this year. Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Potsdam. Students from in state pay about $8,768 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,678 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $32,485. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.

20

University Of California Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA

University Of California Santa Cruz earned the #20 position for value in musicology & ethnomusicology this year. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,035 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,923 for out-of-state students. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates carry a median of $18,559 in student loans. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $40,920. Set against $18,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Santa Cruz admits about 66% of applicants.

21

East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN

East Tennessee State University placed #21 among the best values for musicology & ethnomusicology. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. In-state tuition and fees average $10,216, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $30,004 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. East Tennessee State University admits about 86% of applicants.

22

University Of Kentucky
Lexington, KY

University Of Kentucky placed #22 among the best values for musicology & ethnomusicology. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $49,568 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.

23

Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX

Texas Tech University placed #23 among the best values for musicology & ethnomusicology. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates carry a median of $27,816 in student loans. Soon after graduation, musicology & ethnomusicology degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $50,332. Set against $27,816 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.

24

University At Buffalo
Buffalo, NY

University At Buffalo placed #24 among the best values for musicology & ethnomusicology. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. Set against $22,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.

25

Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University earned the #25 position for value in musicology & ethnomusicology this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $40,570. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.