2026 Best Jazz Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Jazz Studies 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 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools to find the best for jazz studies students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Jazz Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Best Schools for Jazz Studies in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall jazz studies education in the Great Lakes Region.

Top Schools in Jazz Studies

1

Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

14 Jazz Studies Degrees Awarded

$40,570 Median Starting Salary

Leading the list is Michigan State University, our #1 school for jazz studies. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. About 81% of students finish within six years. About 14 jazz studies degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the jazz studies program make about $40,570 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,750. See the full jazz studies program report for Michigan State University

2

Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH

Associate's Degree Highest Degree Type

22 Jazz Studies Degrees Awarded

$17,141 Median Starting Salary

Oberlin College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in jazz studies, ranking #2. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Oberlin. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Oberlin College awarded about 22 jazz studies degrees in the most recent data year. Jazz Studies graduates of Oberlin College earn a median of $17,141 early in their careers. Oberlin College graduates carry a median of $26,200 in student loans. See the full jazz studies program report for Oberlin College

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 24 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.