2026 Best Value Music Schools in Texas
[Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong music education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 94 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value music schools.
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2026 Best Value Music Schools in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Music Schools
Leading the list is El Centro College, our #1 best value for music in Texas. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Students borrow a median of $14,557 to complete the music program here. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $41,295. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at South Texas College earned it the #2 place for music. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. Students from in state pay about $4,920 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Music graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Music graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $30,227 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas Pan American one of the best values for music. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Music graduates carry a median of $20,920 in student loans. Music graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $56,373 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,920 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Austin Community College District came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value music schools. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Students borrow a median of $14,519 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $44,895. Set against $14,519 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Tarrant County College District one of the best values for music. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,863 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Music graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. Set against $15,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Jacinto Community College earned the #6 position for value in music this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,490 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Typical student debt for music graduates is $11,376. Music graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $38,107 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Temple College came in at #7 for value in music this year. Temple College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Temple. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,000, with out-of-state students paying around $7,524. Typical student debt for music graduates is $16,617. Early-career music graduates make about $55,262. That is a strong return on a $16,617 median debt.
South Plains College earned the #8 position for value in music this year. South Plains College is a large public school located in the town of Levelland. In-state tuition and fees average $2,733, compared with $5,157 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,788 to complete the music program here. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from South Plains College generally make around $30,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lone Star College System earned the #9 position for value in music this year. Set in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,664, compared with $7,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music graduates is $10,425. Music graduates of Lone Star College System earn a median of $39,954 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas Womans University came in at #10 for value in music this year. Located in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,640, while out-of-state students pay about $18,480. Students borrow a median of $25,810 to complete the music program here. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Texas Womans University generally make around $41,210. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas Womans University admits about 96% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At El Paso earned the #11 position for value in music this year. The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,544, compared with $25,502 for out-of-state students. Music graduates carry a median of $14,612 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from The University Of Texas At El Paso generally make around $56,062. Set against $14,612 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Texas A And M University Kingsville earned the #12 position for value in music this year. Located in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,892, compared with $25,746 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the music program here. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Texas A And M University Kingsville generally make around $56,072. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio placed #13 among the best values for music. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $9,326 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Students borrow a median of $24,570 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $47,010. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Tyler Junior College came in at #14 for value in music this year. Tyler Junior College is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. Students from in state pay about $2,424 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,536. Typical student debt for music graduates is $14,869. Early-career music graduates make about $43,348. Set against $14,869 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rice University landed the #15 spot for music value this year. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Typical student debt for music graduates is $11,904. Early-career music graduates make about $30,454. That is a strong return on a $11,904 median debt. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
University Of Houston ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value music schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Typical student debt for music graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $52,799. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Lamar University placed #17 among the best values for music. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,905, compared with $18,745 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music graduates is $26,407. Music graduates of Lamar University earn a median of $42,328 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,407 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Texas A And M University Commerce came in at #18 for value in music this year. Located in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,026 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,326. Typical student debt for music graduates is $27,101. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Texas A And M University Commerce generally make around $52,282. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Midwestern State University landed the #19 spot for music value this year. Midwestern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wichita Falls. Students from in state pay about $9,950 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,770. Music graduates carry a median of $26,415 in student loans. Music graduates of Midwestern State University earn a median of $49,638 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Midwestern State University admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of North Texas came in at #20 for value in music this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,309, with out-of-state students paying around $21,149. Students borrow a median of $24,456 to complete the music program here. Early-career music graduates make about $36,763. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
The University Of Texas At Tyler came in at #21 for value in music this year. Located in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,512 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,512 for out-of-state students. Music graduates carry a median of $20,959 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $37,104. Set against $20,959 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Stephen F Austin State University came in at #22 for value in music this year. Stephen F Austin State University is a large public school located in the town of Nacogdoches. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,128, with out-of-state students paying around $20,968. Music graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Music graduates of Stephen F Austin State University earn a median of $48,405 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Arlington ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value music schools. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public school located in the city of Arlington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,950, while out-of-state students pay about $29,582. Music graduates carry a median of $24,911 in student loans. Early-career music graduates make about $37,020. Set against $24,911 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Prairie View A And M University earned the #24 position for value in music this year. Located in the rural area of Prairie View, Prairie View A And M University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,299, compared with $26,874 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music graduates is $29,824. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Prairie View A And M University generally make around $53,784. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi placed #25 among the best values for music. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Texas A And M University Corpus Christi is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,748, with out-of-state students paying around $20,794. Typical student debt for music graduates is $26,544. Early-career music graduates make about $22,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 36 Best Value Music Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for music this year:
View All Music Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 94 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 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.
