by our College Data Analytics Team
[Stringed Instruments](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/stringed-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 5 schools to find the best return on investment for stringed instruments students.
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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in stringed instruments, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in stringed instruments, no school beat University Of Redlands this year. Located in the city of Redlands, University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $60,878 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for stringed instruments graduates is $27,000. Early-career stringed instruments graduates make about $57,218. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Students looking for strong value in stringed instruments will find it at University Of Southern California, which ranked #2. 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. Typical student debt for stringed instruments graduates is $20,976. Soon after graduation, stringed instruments degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $23,244. Set against $20,976 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 10%.
San Francisco Conservatory Of Music is a great value for students pursuing a degree in stringed instruments, landing the #3 spot this year. San Francisco Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Students from in state pay about $56,150 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for stringed instruments graduates is $27,000. Early-career stringed instruments graduates make about $32,882. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Los Angeles Music Academy earned it the #4 place for stringed instruments. Set in the city of Pasadena, Los Angeles Music Academy is a small private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,190. Typical student debt for stringed instruments graduates is $37,296. Early-career stringed instruments graduates make about $24,059. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Los Angeles Music Academy admits about 88% of applicants.
Chapman University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in stringed instruments, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $64,984 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the stringed instruments program here. Soon after graduation, stringed instruments degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $14,538. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
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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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
