2027 Best General Music Schools in the The Plains States Region
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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools to find the best for general music students.
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Best Schools for General Music in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general music education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in General Music
No school ranked higher than University Of Minnesota Twin Cities this year for general music. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 73 general music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $28,677 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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Students looking for a strong general music program will find one at Gustavus Adolphus College, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Gustavus Adolphus College graduates 77% of students within six years. Gustavus Adolphus College awarded about 20 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from Gustavus Adolphus College earn around $44,396 in the first couple years of their career. Gustavus Adolphus College graduates carry a median of $26,197 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general music from Gustavus Adolphus College
University Of Missouri Columbia is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general music, ranking #3. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 52 general music degrees in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $35,939 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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St Olaf College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best general music schools. Located in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 10 general music students who graduated with this degree at St Olaf College in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of St Olaf College earn a median of $24,732 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong general music program will find one at Iowa State University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. Iowa State University awarded about 17 general music degrees in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $54,204 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,496 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general music from Iowa State University
University Of Nebraska At Kearney ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best general music schools. Set in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 general music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska At Kearney in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of University Of Nebraska At Kearney earn a median of $46,744 early in their careers. University Of Nebraska At Kearney graduates carry a median of $22,173 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general music from University Of Nebraska At Kearney
Luther College came in at #7 for general music this year. Set in the town of Decorah, Luther College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 general music students who graduated with this degree at Luther College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Luther College generally make around $45,367. Luther College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Kansas State University came in at #8 for general music this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Manhattan. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 general music students who graduated with this degree at Kansas State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $51,543. Kansas State University graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans.
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University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #9 position for general music this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. About 67% of students finish within six years. University Of Nebraska Lincoln awarded about 61 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general music program make about $48,098 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,373.
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University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #10 spot for general music this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates 54% of students within six years. About 20 general music degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent year. Graduates of the general music program make about $32,144 in their early career. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates carry a median of $23,089 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general music from University Of Missouri Kansas City
University Of South Dakota earned the #11 position for general music this year. Located in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a large public university. About 60% of students finish within six years. University Of South Dakota awarded about 20 general music degrees in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of University Of South Dakota earn a median of $46,183 early in their careers. University Of South Dakota graduates carry a median of $26,322 in student loans.
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University Of Central Missouri landed the #12 spot for general music this year. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 23 general music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Missouri in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $30,321 early in their careers. University Of Central Missouri graduates carry a median of $21,750 in student loans.
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University Of Kansas ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best general music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lawrence. About 69% of students finish within six years. University Of Kansas awarded about 90 general music degrees in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $31,244 early in their careers. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans.
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North Dakota State University Main Campus earned the #14 position for general music this year. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 general music students who graduated with this degree at North Dakota State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from North Dakota State University Main Campus earn around $54,076 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,153 to complete this degree.
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Truman State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best general music schools. Set in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Truman State University awarded about 20 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from Truman State University earn around $39,764 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,168.
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University Of Iowa earned the #16 position for general music this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Iowa awarded about 97 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general music program make about $41,656 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,783 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general music from University Of Iowa
Valley City State University placed #17 among the best general music schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Valley City. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 general music degrees were awarded at Valley City State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Valley City State University generally make around $48,241. Students borrow a median of $25,074 to complete this degree.
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Wichita State University came in at #18 for general music this year. This large public university is located in the city of Wichita. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 general music students who graduated with this degree at Wichita State University in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of $49,278 early in their careers. Wichita State University graduates carry a median of $24,262 in student loans.
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Evangel University came in at #19 for general music this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 general music degrees were awarded at Evangel University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Evangel University generally make around $42,039. Students borrow a median of $24,876 to complete this degree.
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University Of Nebraska At Omaha earned the #20 position for general music this year. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 general music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska At Omaha in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn a median of $20,881 early in their careers. University Of Nebraska At Omaha graduates carry a median of $21,783 in student loans.
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Missouri State University Springfield earned the #21 position for general music this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 general music degrees were awarded at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $46,503. Missouri State University Springfield graduates carry a median of $24,408 in student loans.
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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 · 21 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.