by our College Data Analytics Team
[Percussion Instruments](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/percussion-instruments/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for percussion instruments students.
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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Earn the music business degree that fits into the business world – and partners Southern New Hampshire University with world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
The percussion instruments program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Percussion Instruments Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Learn more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Percussion Instruments Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Earn the music business degree that fits into the business world – and partners Southern New Hampshire University with world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the percussion instruments degrees they offer, see the list below.
Rice University earned the #1 spot for value among percussion instruments schools in the United States. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for percussion instruments graduates is $11,904. Early-career percussion instruments graduates make about $75,299. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.
University Of North Alabama came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value percussion instruments schools. University Of North Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Florence. In-state tuition and fees average $12,120, with out-of-state students paying around $22,320. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the percussion instruments program here. Early-career percussion instruments graduates make about $41,357. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Alabama admits about 87% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values for percussion instruments. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the percussion instruments program here. Percussion Instruments graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $65,681 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music earned it the #4 place for percussion instruments. Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music is a small public school located in the city of San Juan. Students from in state pay about $3,370 in tuition and fees, compared with $3,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for percussion instruments graduates is $12,250. Early-career percussion instruments graduates make about $5,005. Set against $12,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music admits about 78% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value percussion instruments schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Typical student debt for percussion instruments graduates is $20,769. Early-career percussion instruments graduates make about $28,328. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
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Vanderbilt University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value percussion instruments schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the percussion instruments program here. Percussion Instruments graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
University Of Central Oklahoma earned the #7 position for value in percussion instruments this year. Located in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,818, compared with $19,704 for out-of-state students. Percussion Instruments graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, percussion instruments degree recipients from University Of Central Oklahoma generally make around $44,085. Set against $23,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Roosevelt University came in at #8 for value in percussion instruments this year. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $21,315. Percussion Instruments graduates carry a median of $27,750 in student loans. Early-career percussion instruments graduates make about $29,974. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Hartford earned the #9 position for value in percussion instruments this year. Set in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,075. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the percussion instruments program here. Early-career percussion instruments graduates make about $51,123. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California earned the #10 position for value in percussion instruments this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,976 to complete the percussion instruments program here. Early-career percussion instruments graduates make about $75,677. That is a strong return on a $20,976 median debt. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
The Juilliard School earned the #11 position for value in percussion instruments this year. Located in the city of New York, The Juilliard School is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,950. Typical student debt for percussion instruments graduates is $25,000. Early-career percussion instruments graduates make about $14,101. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
San Francisco Conservatory Of Music ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value percussion instruments schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,150. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the percussion instruments program here. Early-career percussion instruments graduates make about $32,882. San Francisco Conservatory Of Music admits about 55% of applicants.
Los Angeles Music Academy placed #13 among the best values for percussion instruments. Los Angeles Music Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,190. Typical student debt for percussion instruments graduates is $37,296. Early-career percussion instruments graduates make about $24,059. That is a strong return on a $37,296 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The New England Conservatory Of Music earned the #14 position for value in percussion instruments this year. Set in the city of Boston, The New England Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,750. Percussion Instruments graduates carry a median of $26,991 in student loans. Early-career percussion instruments graduates make about $24,499. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
Chapman University placed #15 among the best values for percussion instruments. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,984. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the percussion instruments program here. Early-career percussion instruments graduates make about $14,538. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Manhattan School Of Music earned the #16 position for value in percussion instruments this year. Set in the city of New York, Manhattan School Of Music is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,050. Typical student debt for percussion instruments graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, percussion instruments degree recipients from Manhattan School Of Music generally make around $18,441. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 41%.
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Percussion Instruments. See all related rankings.
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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
