by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 448 U.S. colleges awarded 4,149 degrees and certificates in Music Education. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 70% of graduates. College Factual ranks 132 schools in its 2027 Best Music Education Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $50,000 one year after completing, rising to $58,727 after four years.
A major in Music Education covers Music Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Music And Music Appreciation Programs At Various Educational Levels.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, music education is a popular field of study, with 4,149 degrees awarded annually. 448 colleges award music education degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 89.
By level, the 4,149 awards include 1 certificates, 9 associate degrees, 2,900 bachelor’s degrees, 1,178 master’s degrees and 61 doctorates.
Women earned 57% of music education degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,351 of 4,149). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,996) and Hispanic or Latino (468), and international students earned 101.
College Factual ranks 132 schools in its 2027 Best Music Education Schools ranking, including 107 for bachelor’s degrees, 57 for master’s degrees and 6 for doctorates. It also ranks music education schools within 40 states. In all, 448 colleges offer music education programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Music Education Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common music education credential is the bachelor’s degree: 2,900 of the 4,149 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to music education call most for Speaking, Instructing and Learning Strategies, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Speech Clarity and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a music education degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 9 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,900 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,178 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 61 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to music education, at 43.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 43.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 28.7% |
| Master’s degree | 18.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.0% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Music Education, with an average median salary of $76,586; the strongest outlook belongs to Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 9.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Educator, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor and College Professor.
The occupation related to music education with the most projected jobs is Education Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,441,246.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
Music Education graduates earn a median $50,000 one year after completing their program, $58,727 after four years and $56,439 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $50,000 |
| 4 years | $58,727 |
| 5 years | $56,439 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to music education, with a median salary of $98,329.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
Music Education has 37 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 36,246 degrees a year; the largest are Physical Education Teaching and Coaching (7,130), Reading Teacher Education (6,129) and Mathematics Teacher Education (3,405). Browse all Education majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 7,130 |
| Reading Teacher Education | 6,129 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 3,405 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 2,933 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2,470 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 2,020 |
| Art Teacher Education | 1,898 |
| Health Teacher Education | 1,560 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,054 |
| Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education | 1,048 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
