2026 Best General Music Schools in Washington
General Music is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 27 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general music students pursuing a degree.
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Featured General Music Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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Best Schools for General Music in Washington
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general music education in Washington.
Top Schools in General Music
Washington State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best general music schools. Located in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public university. Washington State University graduates 60% of students within six years. Washington State University awarded about 18 general music degrees in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of Washington State University earn a median of $54,697 early in their careers. Washington State University graduates carry a median of $24,503 in student loans.
Get the full general music details for Washington State University
Central Washington University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general music, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 70 general music degrees were awarded at Central Washington University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general music degree from Central Washington University earn around $48,556 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general music program at Central Washington University
Students looking for a strong general music program will find one at Eastern Washington University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. About 29 general music degrees were awarded at Eastern Washington University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general music degree from Eastern Washington University earn around $47,144 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,754.
Get the full general music details for Eastern Washington University
A rank of #4 makes Pacific Lutheran University one of the top schools for general music. Set in the suburb of Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Pacific Lutheran University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 14 general music degrees were awarded at Pacific Lutheran University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general music degree from Pacific Lutheran University earn around $17,711 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,815.
See the full general music program report for Pacific Lutheran University
More General Music Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 27 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.
