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2027 Best Music Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region

25 Colleges in the United States
616 Music Education Degrees Awarded
$47,819 Avg Early-Career Salary

Music Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for music education students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Music Education in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall music education education in the Great Lakes Region.

Top Schools in Music Education

1

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign tops our 2027 ranking of the best music education schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 49 music education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $51,105 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500. Read more about the music education program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

2

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 26 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. Typical student debt for the program is $19,137. Get the full music education details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

3

Ohio State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 26 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Music Education graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $49,282 early in their careers. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. More information about a degree in music education from Ohio State University Main Campus

4

Students looking for a strong music education program will find one at Indiana University Bloomington, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. About 34 music education degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Graduates of the music education program make about $50,587 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree. See the full music education program report for Indiana University Bloomington

5

Students looking for a strong music education program will find one at Illinois State University, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 41 music education students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $50,102. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $24,149 in student loans. More information about a degree in music education from Illinois State University

6
Butler University crest
Butler University
Indianapolis, IN

Butler University earned the #6 position for music education this year. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Butler University graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 music education students who graduated with this degree at Butler University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $68,222 in their early career. Butler University graduates carry a median of $25,351 in student loans. More information about a degree in music education from Butler University

7
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University came in at #7 for music education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. Depaul University awarded about 13 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $52,130 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,910 to complete this degree. See the full music education program report for Depaul University

8

Ball State University came in at #8 for music education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Muncie. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 music education students who graduated with this degree at Ball State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $49,745. Ball State University graduates carry a median of $24,998 in student loans. See the full music education program report for Ball State University

9

Miami University Oxford placed #9 among the best music education schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Oxford. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 14 music education degrees were awarded at Miami University Oxford in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $46,681. Typical student debt for the program is $24,560. Get the full music education details for Miami University Oxford

10
Elmhurst College crest
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College placed #10 among the best music education schools. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 music education students who graduated with this degree at Elmhurst College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Elmhurst College generally make around $46,789. Elmhurst College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the music education program at Elmhurst College

11

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #11 among the best music education schools. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 music education degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Music Education graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $41,843 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the music education program at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

12

University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #12 for music education this year. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point awarded about 39 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music education degree from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earn around $40,005 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,719. Read more about the music education program at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point

13

Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #13 position for music education this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 23 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Music Education graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $46,368 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,642. See the full music education program report for Bowling Green State University Main Campus

14
Oakland University crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI

Oakland University landed the #14 spot for music education this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. Oakland University graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 music education students who graduated with this degree at Oakland University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $58,637 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,972. Get the full music education details for Oakland University

15
Central Michigan University crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University landed the #15 spot for music education this year. This large public university is located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Central Michigan University graduates 59% of students within six years. Central Michigan University awarded about 29 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Music Education graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $52,168 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete this degree. Get the full music education details for Central Michigan University

16

Kent State University At Kent ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best music education schools. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Kent State University At Kent awarded about 46 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $47,727. Kent State University At Kent graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Get the full music education details for Kent State University At Kent

17
Indiana State University crest
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, IN

Indiana State University earned the #17 position for music education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Terre Haute. About 43% of students finish within six years. About 14 music education degrees were awarded at Indiana State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music education program make about $45,862 in their early career. Indiana State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the music education program at Indiana State University

18

Western Michigan University came in at #18 for music education this year. This large public university is located in the city of Kalamazoo. Western Michigan University graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 music education students who graduated with this degree at Western Michigan University in the most recent data year. Music Education graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $48,382 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete this degree. Get the full music education details for Western Michigan University

19

Vandercook College Of Music placed #19 among the best music education schools. Vandercook College Of Music is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 50 music education students who graduated with this degree at Vandercook College Of Music in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music education degree from Vandercook College Of Music earn around $43,100 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full music education details for Vandercook College Of Music

20
Capital University crest
Capital University
Columbus, OH

Capital University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best music education schools. Located in the suburb of Columbus, Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 22 music education students who graduated with this degree at Capital University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Capital University generally make around $32,597. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full music education program report for Capital University

21

Millikin University placed #21 among the best music education schools. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Millikin University graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 music education students who graduated with this degree at Millikin University in the most recent data year. Music Education graduates of Millikin University earn a median of $43,936 early in their careers. Millikin University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full music education details for Millikin University

22

Baldwin Wallace College landed the #22 spot for music education this year. Set in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 16 music education degrees were awarded at Baldwin Wallace College in the most recent year. Music Education graduates of Baldwin Wallace College earn a median of $44,216 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full music education program report for Baldwin Wallace College

23

Youngstown State University came in at #23 for music education this year. This large public university is located in the city of Youngstown. Youngstown State University graduates 50% of students within six years. Youngstown State University awarded about 20 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $33,398 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,751 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music education from Youngstown State University

24

Eastern Michigan University earned the #24 position for music education this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. Eastern Michigan University graduates 46% of students within six years. Eastern Michigan University awarded about 13 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $46,732 in their early career. Eastern Michigan University graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Get the full music education details for Eastern Michigan University

25

University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #25 spot for music education this year. This large public university is located in the city of Akron. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 music education degrees were awarded at University Of Akron Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their music education degree from University Of Akron Main Campus earn around $39,613 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Akron Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in music education from University Of Akron Main Campus

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 25 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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