by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 52 U.S. colleges awarded 402 degrees and certificates in Music Pedagogy. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 49% of graduates. College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Music Pedagogy 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 Pedagogy explores Music Pedagogy. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Provide Musical Instruction And Tutoring To Clients In Private And Institutional Settings. Includes Instruction In Music Theory, Music Composition, Mastery Of One Or More Instruments, Familiarity With Various Musical Genres And Styles, Principles Of Music Education, And Client Communications.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, music pedagogy draws strong interest, with 402 degrees awarded annually. 52 colleges award music pedagogy degrees, an average of 8 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 112.
By level, the 402 awards include 106 bachelor’s degrees, 197 master’s degrees and 89 doctorates.
Women earned 52% of music pedagogy degrees and certificates in the latest year (211 of 402). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (258) and Hispanic or Latino (41), and international students earned 29.
College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Music Pedagogy Schools ranking, including 8 for bachelor’s degrees, 6 for master’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks music pedagogy schools within 6 states. In all, 52 colleges offer music pedagogy programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Music Pedagogy Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common music pedagogy credential is the master’s degree: 197 of the 402 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to music pedagogy 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 music pedagogy degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 106 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 197 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 89 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to music pedagogy, 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 Music Pedagogy, 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 Dance Professor, Art History Professor, Ceramics Teacher and Adjunct Instructor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to music pedagogy, 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% |
Music Pedagogy 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 music pedagogy 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 |
Music Pedagogy has 16 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 25,867 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 |
| Musicology and Ethnomusicology | 168 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
