[Woodwind Instruments](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/woodwind-instruments/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong woodwind instruments education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for woodwind instruments students.
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Finding the Best Value Woodwind Instruments School for You
The woodwind instruments program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we built our Best Value Woodwind Instruments Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Woodwind Instruments Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Rice University tops our 2026 list of the best value woodwind instruments schools in the United States. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,247. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete the woodwind instruments program here. Early-career woodwind instruments graduates make about $30,454. That is a strong return on a $11,904 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #2 place for woodwind instruments. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for woodwind instruments graduates is $16,481. Woodwind 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 University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #3 place for woodwind instruments. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for woodwind instruments graduates is $19,397. Soon after graduation, woodwind instruments degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. Set against $19,397 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in woodwind instruments will find it at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Woodwind Instruments graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Woodwind 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. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value woodwind instruments schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Students borrow a median of $20,769 to complete the woodwind instruments program here. Soon after graduation, woodwind instruments degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $28,328. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value woodwind instruments schools. Set in the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,370, with out-of-state students paying around $3,850. Typical student debt for woodwind instruments graduates is $12,250. Early-career woodwind instruments graduates make about $5,005. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Puerto Rico Conservatory Of Music admits about 78% of applicants.
Texas Tech University landed the #7 spot for woodwind instruments value this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,816 to complete the woodwind instruments program here. Woodwind Instruments graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $50,332 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,816 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
University Of Southern California ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value woodwind instruments schools. 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 woodwind instruments program here. Soon after graduation, woodwind instruments degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $23,244. That is a strong return on a $20,976 median debt. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
University Of Hartford came in at #9 for value in woodwind instruments this year. Set in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $49,075. Typical student debt for woodwind instruments graduates is $27,000. Woodwind Instruments graduates of University Of Hartford earn a median of $26,775 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Roosevelt University landed the #10 spot for woodwind instruments value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,315 in tuition and fees. Woodwind Instruments graduates carry a median of $27,750 in student loans. Woodwind Instruments graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $29,974 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,750 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Belmont University came in at #11 for value in woodwind instruments this year. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,540. Woodwind Instruments graduates carry a median of $25,988 in student loans. Early-career woodwind instruments graduates make about $27,517. Set against $25,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Ithaca College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value woodwind instruments schools. Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ithaca. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,616. Typical student debt for woodwind instruments graduates is $27,000. Early-career woodwind instruments graduates make about $38,328. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
The Juilliard School came in at #13 for value in woodwind instruments this year. Set in the city of New York, The Juilliard School is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,950. Typical student debt for woodwind instruments graduates is $25,000. Early-career woodwind instruments graduates make about $14,101. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
San Francisco Conservatory Of Music earned the #14 position for value in woodwind instruments 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. Woodwind Instruments graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, woodwind instruments degree recipients from San Francisco Conservatory Of Music generally make around $32,882. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Los Angeles Music Academy came in at #15 for value in woodwind instruments this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Los Angeles Music Academy is a small private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,190. Typical student debt for woodwind instruments graduates is $37,296. Woodwind Instruments graduates of Los Angeles Music Academy earn a median of $24,059 early in their careers. Set against $37,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Los Angeles Music Academy admits about 88% of applicants.
The New England Conservatory Of Music ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value woodwind instruments schools. Set in the city of Boston, The New England Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $60,750 in tuition and fees. Woodwind Instruments graduates carry a median of $26,991 in student loans. Soon after graduation, woodwind instruments degree recipients from The New England Conservatory Of Music generally make around $24,499. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The New England Conservatory Of Music admits about 41% of applicants.
Longy School Of Music Of Bard College landed the #17 spot for woodwind instruments value this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Longy School Of Music Of Bard College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,275. Woodwind Instruments graduates of Longy School Of Music Of Bard College earn a median of $30,660 early in their careers.
Manhattan School Of Music placed #18 among the best values for woodwind instruments. Located in the city of New York, Manhattan School Of Music is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,050. Woodwind Instruments graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career woodwind instruments graduates make about $18,441. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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).
[Woodwind Instruments](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/woodwind-instruments/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong woodwind instruments education at a price that pays off.
