Cost of Music Conservatory degree- worth it?

I posted A similar question in a different spot on this site. Sorry if you read this twice!
My son has been studying piano for 11 years. He is a junior in HS. Piano is his passion and he wants to be a professor and have a private studio. We are starting a list of West Coast Bachelor of Music colleges. My husband says son is to pick a West Coast School. Bottom line most of the best options are 65,000-75,000 a year. This is more than we can afford, son will not likely qualify for need based aid. He has a 3.88 gpa and scored a 1300 on psat. Should we still visit the dream schools with the large price tag and take private lessons from teachers hoping for the best?

My D2 is in the middle of applying for voice and staying on the west coast. We are in California and I have been impressed with the state school options for music. What state are you from?

We are in CA and he has some state schools on the list to visit too.

Since there are some good in-state options which are affordable, it doesn’t hurt to try for a conservatory or a more expensive option. However, for both of my daughter’s we discouraged the notion of a “dream school.” Every school has its pros and cons, including being able to afford it.

Before you assume that you won’t qualify for any financial aid, it’s worth going to the school websites and using their cost estimation tool if there is one. Plug in your numbers as correctly as possible. The results may surprise you.

Agree with above. Plus, some will give music scholarships. The list price may not be the price you pay even if you don’t qualify for need based aid. If west coast includes the PNW, University of Puget Sound is a smaller LAC with a good music program. I don’t know anything about piano there but they are known to give large merit scholarships.