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2026 Best Value Music Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

18 Colleges in the United States
$20,489 Avg Student Debt
$56,439 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Music Badge [Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

College Factual analyzed 50 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value music schools.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Music Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Music Schools

1
Snow College crest
Snow College
Ephraim, UT

Snow College tops our 2026 list of the best value music schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,338, with out-of-state students paying around $14,288. Students borrow a median of $10,440 to complete the music program here. Music graduates of Snow College earn a median of $42,776 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Brigham Young University Idaho earned it the #2 place for music. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800. Students borrow a median of $13,541 to complete the music program here. Music graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $43,853 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.

3

Utah Valley University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Music graduates carry a median of $16,478 in student loans. Music graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $24,952 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,478 median debt.

4

A rank of #4 makes Weber State University one of the best values for music. Set in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,557, while out-of-state students pay about $17,545. Typical student debt for music graduates is $19,176. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $53,920. Set against $19,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

5

Students looking for strong value in music will find it at Southern Utah University, which ranked #5. Southern Utah University is a very large public school located in the town of Cedar City. Students from in state pay about $6,962 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,192. Music graduates carry a median of $12,886 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $44,998. Set against $12,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.

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6
University Of Utah crest
University Of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT

University Of Utah landed the #6 spot for music value this year. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music graduates is $16,500. Music graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $42,548 early in their careers. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.

7

Utah State University came in at #7 for value in music this year. Located in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,560 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,993 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $22,983. That is a strong return on a $13,500 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.

8

University Of Idaho landed the #8 spot for music value this year. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,084, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. Typical student debt for music graduates is $23,844. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Idaho generally make around $30,191. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.

9

Colorado State University Pueblo came in at #9 for value in music this year. Set in the city of Pueblo, Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,720 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,944. Music graduates carry a median of $25,325 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $49,098. That is a strong return on a $25,325 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.

10

Brigham Young University Provo came in at #10 for value in music this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,688. Typical student debt for music graduates is $10,460. Early-career music graduates make about $22,625. Set against $10,460 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.

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11

Metropolitan State College Of Denver earned the #11 position for value in music this year. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,124, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Music graduates carry a median of $30,971 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Metropolitan State College Of Denver generally make around $19,797. That is a strong return on a $30,971 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.

12

Idaho State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value music schools. Idaho State University is a large public school located in the city of Pocatello. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,610, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Typical student debt for music graduates is $24,640. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Idaho State University generally make around $51,446. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

13

The University Of Montana came in at #13 for value in music this year. Located in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,552, compared with $33,671 for out-of-state students. Music graduates carry a median of $24,342 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from The University Of Montana generally make around $42,654. Set against $24,342 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Montana admits about 96% of applicants.

14

University Of Northern Colorado ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value music schools. Set in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,901, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,354 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $27,731. That is a strong return on a $24,354 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.

15

University Of Colorado Denver earned the #15 position for value in music this year. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,383, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. Music graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Music graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $29,483 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.

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16

Colorado State University Fort Collins earned the #16 position for value in music this year. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Music graduates carry a median of $26,837 in student loans. Music graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $46,479 early in their careers. Set against $26,837 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.

17

Boise State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value music schools. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. Students from in state pay about $9,048 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,788. Typical student debt for music graduates is $24,311. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $49,059. That is a strong return on a $24,311 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.

18

Montana State University came in at #18 for value in music this year. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,460, with out-of-state students paying around $33,287. Students borrow a median of $23,635 to complete the music program here. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Montana State University generally make around $38,807. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.

19

University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #19 for value in music this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Typical student debt for music graduates is $17,288. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $32,416. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.

20

University Of Denver came in at #20 for value in music this year. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,398. Music graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Music graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $23,403 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Denver admits about 78% of applicants.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 50 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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