by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 60 U.S. colleges awarded 598 degrees and certificates in Jazz Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 63% of graduates. College Factual ranks 19 schools in its 2027 Best Jazz Studies 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 degree in Jazz Studies covers Jazz/jazz Studies. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Study And Master The Performance And Composition Of Jazz. Includes Instruction In The History Of Jazz And Related Musical Styles Such As The Blues, Jazz Composition And Theory, Improvisation, Jazz Instrument And Ensemble Performance, And Related Topics.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, jazz studies is a widely-pursued major, with 598 degrees awarded annually. 60 colleges award jazz studies degrees, an average of 10 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 57.
By level, the 598 awards include 2 certificates, 2 associate degrees, 379 bachelor’s degrees, 198 master’s degrees and 17 doctorates.
Women earned 19% of jazz studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (113 of 598). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (314) and Hispanic or Latino (65), and international students earned 103.
College Factual ranks 19 schools in its 2027 Best Jazz Studies Schools ranking, including 11 for bachelor’s degrees, 12 for master’s degrees and 4 for doctorates. It also ranks jazz studies schools within 11 states. In all, 60 colleges offer jazz studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Jazz Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common jazz studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 379 of the 598 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to jazz studies 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 jazz studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 379 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 198 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 17 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to jazz studies, 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 Jazz Studies, 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 Piano Professor, Adjunct College Instructor, Singing Teacher and Choral Teacher.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to jazz studies, 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% |
Jazz Studies 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 jazz studies 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 |
Jazz Studies has 16 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 25,671 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 |
| Stringed Instruments | 585 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 536 |
| Music Pedagogy | 402 |
| Musicology and Ethnomusicology | 168 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
