by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 61 U.S. colleges awarded 536 degrees and certificates in Keyboard Instruments. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 64% of graduates. College Factual ranks 13 schools in its 2027 Best Keyboard Instruments 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 Keyboard Instruments involves the study of Keyboard Instruments. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Master The Piano, Organ, Or Related Keyboard Instruments And Performing Art As Solo, Ensemble, And/or Accompanist Performers. Includes Instruction In Piano And Keyboard Pedagogy, Ensemble Playing, Accompanying, Service Playing, Repertoire, Keyboard And Pedal Skills, Recital, And Personal Style Development. Examples: [Piano], [Organ], [Harpsichord].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, keyboard instruments draws strong interest, with 536 degrees awarded annually. 61 colleges award keyboard instruments degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 85.
By level, the 536 awards include 1 associate degrees, 126 bachelor’s degrees, 344 master’s degrees and 65 doctorates.
Women earned 60% of keyboard instruments degrees and certificates in the latest year (320 of 536). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (91) and Asian (65), and international students earned 332.
College Factual ranks 13 schools in its 2027 Best Keyboard Instruments Schools ranking, including 3 for bachelor’s degrees, 8 for master’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks keyboard instruments schools within 9 states. In all, 61 colleges offer keyboard instruments programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Keyboard Instruments Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common keyboard instruments credential is the master’s degree: 344 of the 536 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to keyboard instruments 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.
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How long a keyboard instruments degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 126 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 344 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 65 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to keyboard instruments, 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 Keyboard Instruments, 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 Photography Professor, Art Instructor, Orchestra Teacher and Ceramics Teacher.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to keyboard instruments, 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% |
Keyboard Instruments 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 keyboard instruments 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 |
Keyboard Instruments has 16 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 25,733 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 |
| Jazz/Jazz Studies | 598 |
| Stringed Instruments | 585 |
| Music Pedagogy | 402 |
| Musicology and Ethnomusicology | 168 |
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