2027 Best Music Education Schools in the Southeast Region
Music Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their music education programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 37 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 Southeast Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the music education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Music Education
Florida State University tops our 2027 ranking of the best music education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 63 music education degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $54,079. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
See the full music education program report for Florida State University
University Of Georgia came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best music education schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Georgia awarded about 43 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $61,081. Typical student debt for the program is $20,750.
Get the full music education details for University Of Georgia
A rank of #3 makes University Of Florida one of the top schools for music education. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 45 music education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $51,476. Students borrow a median of $15,275 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music education program at University Of Florida
Students looking for a strong music education program will find one at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 12 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
See the full music education program report for Vanderbilt University
A rank of #5 makes Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College one of the top schools for music education. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 11 music education students who graduated with this degree at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $32,318 in their early career. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College graduates carry a median of $22,728 in student loans.
Get the full music education details for Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #6 spot for music education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tampa. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 music education students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $51,543. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,375 in student loans.
See the full music education program report for University Of South Florida Main Campus
University Of Louisville placed #7 among the best music education schools. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. University Of Louisville graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 music education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Louisville in the most recent data year. Music Education graduates of University Of Louisville earn a median of $56,181 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
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Auburn University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best music education schools. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Auburn University awarded about 22 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $60,823 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,600.
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Appalachian State University came in at #9 for music education this year. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. About 74% of students finish within six years. Appalachian State University awarded about 26 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $44,026 in their early career. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $21,614 in student loans.
Get the full music education details for Appalachian State University
University Of North Florida landed the #10 spot for music education this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 music education students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $47,219. Typical student debt for the program is $18,523.
More information about a degree in music education from University Of North Florida
Shenandoah University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best music education schools. Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winchester. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 music education students who graduated with this degree at Shenandoah University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $51,601 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full music education details for Shenandoah University
The University Of Alabama ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best music education schools. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. There were roughly 18 music education students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Alabama in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $28,391 in their early career. The University Of Alabama graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full music education program report for The University Of Alabama
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best music education schools. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 10 music education students who graduated with this degree at Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music education degree from Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University earn around $38,719 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,824 to complete this degree.
See the full music education program report for Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University
University Of Arkansas placed #14 among the best music education schools. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 20 music education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music education degree from University Of Arkansas earn around $56,703 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,019 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music education program at University Of Arkansas
University Of Kentucky ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best music education schools. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. University Of Kentucky awarded about 25 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $42,057. Typical student debt for the program is $24,002.
See the full music education program report for University Of Kentucky
University Of Central Florida ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best music education schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Orlando. About 78% of students finish within six years. University Of Central Florida awarded about 14 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $38,466 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,088.
See the full music education program report for University Of Central Florida
Georgia College And State University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best music education schools. Located in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 music education students who graduated with this degree at Georgia College And State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $52,718 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,412.
More information about a degree in music education from Georgia College And State University
East Carolina University earned the #18 position for music education this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 music education degrees were awarded at East Carolina University in the most recent year. Music Education graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $48,318 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Read more about the music education program at East Carolina University
Belmont University came in at #19 for music education this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Belmont University graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 music education students who graduated with this degree at Belmont University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music education degree from Belmont University earn around $49,699 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,447.
More information about a degree in music education from Belmont University
Mississippi State University came in at #20 for music education this year. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Mississippi State University awarded about 24 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $44,420 in their early career. Mississippi State University graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans.
Read more about the music education program at Mississippi State University
Western Carolina University came in at #21 for music education this year. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 music education degrees were awarded at Western Carolina University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music education program make about $41,444 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music education program at Western Carolina University
William Carey University placed #22 among the best music education schools. Located in the city of Hattiesburg, William Carey University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. William Carey University awarded about 33 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music education degree from William Carey University earn around $52,790 in the first couple years of their career. William Carey University graduates carry a median of $25,524 in student loans.
See the full music education program report for William Carey University
Stetson University earned the #23 position for music education this year. Stetson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of DeLand. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. Stetson University awarded about 10 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Stetson University generally make around $48,139. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full music education program report for Stetson University
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #24 for music education this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 32 music education degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent year. Music Education graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $43,033 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full music education details for University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Kennesaw State University came in at #25 for music education this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kennesaw. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Kennesaw State University awarded about 20 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $45,243 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,500.
Get the full music education details for Kennesaw State University
Rest of the Top 37 Music Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s music education ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 37 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.