2027 Best General Music Schools in the Southwest Region
General Music is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general music programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 35 schools to find the best for general music students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for General Music in the Southwest 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 general music degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in General Music
University Of Houston tops our 2027 ranking of the best general music schools. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Houston awarded about 79 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $52,799. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general music program at University Of Houston
The University Of Texas At Austin is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general music, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 110 general music degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Students who receive their general music degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $33,937 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Read more about the general music program at The University Of Texas At Austin
Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general music, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 47 general music degrees were awarded at Oklahoma State University Main Campus in the most recent year. General Music graduates of Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn a median of $50,993 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,337.
More information about a degree in general music from Oklahoma State University Main Campus
The University Of Texas Pan American is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general music, ranking #4. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 general music degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas Pan American in the most recent year. Students who receive their general music degree from The University Of Texas Pan American earn around $56,373 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,920 to complete this degree.
See the full general music program report for The University Of Texas Pan American
The University Of Texas At Arlington came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best general music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Arlington. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 41 general music degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Arlington in the most recent year. Graduates of the general music program make about $37,020 in their early career. The University Of Texas At Arlington graduates carry a median of $24,911 in student loans.
See the full general music program report for The University Of Texas At Arlington
Southern Methodist University earned the #6 position for general music this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 general music degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general music degree from Southern Methodist University earn around $26,308 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,417 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general music from Southern Methodist University
University Of North Texas landed the #7 spot for general music this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 118 general music degrees were awarded at University Of North Texas in the most recent year. Graduates of the general music program make about $36,763 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,456.
Read more about the general music program at University Of North Texas
Texas State University San Marcos landed the #8 spot for general music this year. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 77 general music degrees were awarded at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $39,318. Students borrow a median of $26,241 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general music program at Texas State University San Marcos
The University Of Texas At El Paso earned the #9 position for general music this year. Set in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public institution. The University Of Texas At El Paso graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 51 general music students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At El Paso in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $56,062 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,612 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general music program at The University Of Texas At El Paso
The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned the #10 position for general music this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. The University Of Texas At San Antonio awarded about 49 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $47,010. Students borrow a median of $24,570 to complete this degree.
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Arizona State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best general music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 76 general music degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $26,653. Typical student debt for the program is $21,504.
More information about a degree in general music from Arizona State University
Austin Community College District placed #12 among the best general music schools. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. Austin Community College District awarded about 22 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general music program make about $44,895 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,519 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general music from Austin Community College District
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earned the #13 position for general music this year. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus awarded about 45 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn around $17,665 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates carry a median of $21,639 in student loans.
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Texas Womans University placed #14 among the best general music schools. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public institution. Texas Womans University graduates 49% of students within six years. Texas Womans University awarded about 42 general music degrees in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of Texas Womans University earn a median of $41,210 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,810.
See the full general music program report for Texas Womans University
Northern Arizona University earned the #15 position for general music this year. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. There were roughly 12 general music students who graduated with this degree at Northern Arizona University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from Northern Arizona University earn around $47,056 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,645.
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Stephen F Austin State University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best general music schools. Set in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. Stephen F Austin State University awarded about 93 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general music program make about $48,405 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Sam Houston State University placed #17 among the best general music schools. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 64 general music degrees were awarded at Sam Houston State University in the most recent year. General Music graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of $59,926 early in their careers. Sam Houston State University graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans.
See the full general music program report for Sam Houston State University
Texas Tech University earned the #18 position for general music this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Texas Tech University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 93 general music students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general music program make about $39,571 in their early career. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $27,816 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general music from Texas Tech University
West Texas A And M University came in at #19 for general music this year. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. West Texas A And M University awarded about 30 general music degrees in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of West Texas A And M University earn a median of $50,881 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,750 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general music from West Texas A And M University
Tarleton State University landed the #20 spot for general music this year. Tarleton State University is a large public school located in the town of Stephenville. Tarleton State University graduates 48% of students within six years. Tarleton State University awarded about 18 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Tarleton State University generally make around $50,532. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the general music program at Tarleton State University
University Of Arizona ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best general music schools. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 50 general music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arizona in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general music program make about $30,157 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,800.
More information about a degree in general music from University Of Arizona
Lone Star College System placed #22 among the best general music schools. Located in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public university. About 49 general music degrees were awarded at Lone Star College System in the most recent year. Graduates of the general music program make about $39,954 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,425 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general music program at Lone Star College System
Lamar University placed #23 among the best general music schools. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public university. About 37% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 general music students who graduated with this degree at Lamar University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Lamar University generally make around $42,328. Students borrow a median of $26,407 to complete this degree.
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Texas A And M University Commerce landed the #24 spot for general music this year. Set in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. There were roughly 51 general music students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University Commerce in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Texas A And M University Commerce generally make around $52,282. Students borrow a median of $27,101 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general music from Texas A And M University Commerce
The University Of Texas At Tyler earned the #25 position for general music this year. Set in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 14 general music students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Tyler in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Tyler generally make around $37,104. Typical student debt for the program is $20,959.
Read more about the general music program at The University Of Texas At Tyler
Rest of the Top 35 General Music Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general music education:
Narrow General Music Schools by State
More General Music Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 35 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.