2027 Best Music Education Schools in Illinois
Music Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their music education programs.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best music education schools.
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Best Schools for Music Education in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall music education education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Music Education
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 school for music education. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. 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. Music Education graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $51,105 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
Get the full music education details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Students looking for a strong music education program will find one at Illinois State University, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. 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. Students borrow a median of $24,149 to complete this degree.
See the full music education program report for Illinois State University
A rank of #3 makes Depaul University one of the top schools for music education. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 music education students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Music Education graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $52,130 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,910.
See the full music education program report for Depaul University
Elmhurst College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Elmhurst College awarded about 18 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Music Education graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $46,789 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music education from Elmhurst College
Students looking for a strong music education program will find one at Vandercook College Of Music, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Chicago, Vandercook College Of Music is a small private not-for-profit university. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 50 music education degrees were awarded at Vandercook College Of Music in the most recent year. Music Education graduates of Vandercook College Of Music earn a median of $43,100 early in their careers. Vandercook College Of Music graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full music education program report for Vandercook College Of Music
Millikin University came in at #6 for music education this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Decatur. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 music education students who graduated with this degree at Millikin University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Millikin University generally make around $43,936. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in music education from Millikin University
More Music Education Rankings
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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 · 6 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
