by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 15 U.S. colleges awarded 103 degrees and certificates in Brass Instruments. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 55% of graduates. College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Brass Instruments Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $29,221 one year after completing, rising to $45,008 after four years.
A major in Brass Instruments involves the study of Brass Instruments. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Master A Brass Instrument And Performing Art As Solo, Ensemble, And/or Accompanist Performers. Includes Instruction In Playing And Personal Style Development. Examples: [Trumpet], [Horn], [Trombone], [Euphonium/baritone], [Tuba].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, brass instruments is a popular field of study, with 103 degrees awarded annually. 15 colleges award brass instruments degrees, an average of 7 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 18.
By level, the 103 awards include 44 bachelor’s degrees, 57 master’s degrees and 2 doctorates.
Women earned 19% of brass instruments degrees and certificates in the latest year (20 of 103). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (57) and Hispanic or Latino (13), and international students earned 15.
College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Brass Instruments Schools ranking, including 1 for doctorates. It also ranks brass instruments schools within 3 states. In all, 15 colleges offer brass instruments programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Brass Instruments Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common brass instruments credential is the master’s degree: 57 of the 103 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to brass instruments call most for Speaking, Instructing and Learning Strategies, and for knowledge of Fine Arts, Education and Training and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a brass instruments degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 44 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 57 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to brass instruments, at 49.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 49.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 30.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Brass Instruments, with an average median salary of $71,777; the strongest outlook belongs to Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 9.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Choir Teacher, Art Instructor, Ballet Teacher and Studio Instructor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to brass instruments, at 1,074,154.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Musicians and Singers | 44,568 | 7.2% |
Brass Instruments graduates earn a median $29,221 one year after completing their program, $45,008 after four years and $40,994 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $29,221 |
| 4 years | $45,008 |
| 5 years | $40,994 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to brass instruments is Musicians and Singers, with a median salary of $96,571.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Musicians and Singers | $96,571 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
Brass Instruments has 16 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 26,166 degrees a year; the largest are Music, General (10,882), Music Performance, General (7,138) and Music Technology (2,097). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music, General | 10,882 |
| Music Performance, General | 7,138 |
| Music Technology | 2,097 |
| Music Theory and Composition | 1,337 |
| Music, Other | 1,235 |
| Voice and Opera | 651 |
| Jazz/Jazz Studies | 598 |
| Stringed Instruments | 585 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 536 |
| Music Pedagogy | 402 |
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