by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 32 U.S. colleges awarded 147 degrees and certificates in Music History. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 74% of graduates. College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Music History 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 major in Music History explores Music History, Literature, And Theory. A Program That Focuses On The Study Of The Historical Evolution Of Music As A Social And Intellectual Phenomenon, The Development Of Musical Instruments And Techniques, And The Analysis And Criticism Of Musical Literature. Includes Instruction In Music History Research Methods, Aesthetic Analysis Of Musical Compositions, History Of Musical Writing And Notation, The Development Of Musical Instruments, The Development Of Music Theory, And The Study Of Specific Periods, Cultural Traditions, Styles, And Themes.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., music history draws strong interest, with 147 degrees awarded annually. 32 colleges award music history degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 22.
By level, the 147 awards include 109 bachelor’s degrees, 25 master’s degrees and 13 doctorates.
Women earned 53% of music history degrees and certificates in the latest year (78 of 147). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (105) and Hispanic or Latino (12), and international students earned 12.
College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Music History Schools ranking, including 3 for bachelor’s degrees, 2 for master’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks music history schools within 3 states. In all, 32 colleges offer music history programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Music History Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common music history credential is the bachelor’s degree: 109 of the 147 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to music history 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 Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a music history degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 109 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 25 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 13 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to music history, at 50.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 50.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 31.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 13.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Music History, with an average median salary of $46,983; the strongest outlook belongs to Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 9.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Media Arts Professor, Band Teacher, Baton Teacher and Theater Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to music history, at 1,074,154.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
Music History 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 same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to music history, with a median salary of $46,983.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
Music History has 16 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 26,122 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 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 536 |
| Music Pedagogy | 402 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
