2026 Best Value Musicology & Ethnomusicology Schools in the Far Western Region
[Musicology & Ethnomusicology](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/musicology-and-ethnomusicology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value musicology & ethnomusicology schools.
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2026 Best Value Musicology & Ethnomusicology Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the musicology & ethnomusicology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Musicology & Ethnomusicology Schools
For return on investment in musicology & ethnomusicology, no school beat University Of Washington Seattle Campus this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. 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. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Portland State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in musicology & ethnomusicology, landing the #2 spot this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,846 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $47,717 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in musicology & ethnomusicology will find it at University Of California Los Angeles, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Musicology & Ethnomusicology graduates carry a median of $23,119 in student loans. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $18,823. Set against $23,119 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
University Of California Santa Cruz is a great value for students pursuing a degree in musicology & ethnomusicology, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,035 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,923 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for musicology & ethnomusicology graduates is $18,559. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $40,920. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Santa Cruz admits about 66% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Oregon earned it the #5 place for musicology & ethnomusicology. Located in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,320 in tuition and fees, compared with $42,516 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for musicology & ethnomusicology graduates is $20,583. Soon after graduation, musicology & ethnomusicology degree recipients from University Of Oregon generally make around $20,707. That is a strong return on a $20,583 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Southern California placed #6 among the best values for musicology & ethnomusicology. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Students borrow a median of $20,976 to complete the musicology & ethnomusicology program here. Soon after graduation, musicology & ethnomusicology degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $23,244. Set against $20,976 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
California Institute Of The Arts came in at #7 for value in musicology & ethnomusicology this year. Located in the suburb of Valencia, California Institute Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $58,996 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for musicology & ethnomusicology graduates is $23,125. Early-career musicology & ethnomusicology graduates make about $18,373. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 32% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
