by our College Data Analytics TeamMusic Performance degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 147 schools to find the best for music performance students.
What’s on this page:
The music performance program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Music Performance Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Music Performance Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the music performance degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than San Jose State University this year for music performance. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 music performance degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year. More information about a degree in music performance from San Jose State University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music performance, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 10 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $32,880 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Get the full music performance details for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 26 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $52,541 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,614. Get the full music performance details for University Of Maryland College Park
Students looking for a strong music performance program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 44 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Northwestern University earn around $28,057 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $18,166 in student loans. Get the full music performance details for Northwestern University
Furman University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Greenville. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 10 music performance degrees were awarded at Furman University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $36,520 in their early career. Furman University graduates carry a median of $20,830 in student loans. Read more about the music performance program at Furman University
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #6 spot for music performance this year. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the suburb of West Chester. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 10 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Get the full music performance details for West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
James Madison University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 68 music performance degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $36,106 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,968 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music performance from James Madison University
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #8 position for music performance this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New Brunswick. About 84% of students finish within six years. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 92 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $36,818 early in their careers. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in music performance from Rutgers University New Brunswick
New York University placed #9 among the best music performance schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. New York University awarded about 155 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from New York University generally make around $28,287. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. Get the full music performance details for New York University
University Of California Irvine came in at #10 for music performance this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. About 87% of students finish within six years. University Of California Irvine awarded about 14 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $50,958 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,539. More information about a degree in music performance from University Of California Irvine
Illinois State University earned the #11 position for music performance this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $35,863 in their early career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in music performance from Illinois State University
University Of Houston ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. About 12 music performance degrees were awarded at University Of Houston in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $52,799 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. More information about a degree in music performance from University Of Houston
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #13 position for music performance this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 music performance degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $33,937 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full music performance program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
Butler University placed #14 among the best music performance schools. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. About 79% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Butler University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Butler University earn around $68,222 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,170 to complete this degree. Read more about the music performance program at Butler University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #15 for music performance this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 158 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $29,641 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,397 to complete this degree. See the full music performance program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 36 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $31,552 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. See the full music performance program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
George Mason University placed #17 among the best music performance schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 45 music performance students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $34,841 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,048. Get the full music performance details for George Mason University
Messiah College placed #18 among the best music performance schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 36 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Messiah College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Messiah College earn around $66,109 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,965 to complete this degree. See the full music performance program report for Messiah College
Johns Hopkins University came in at #19 for music performance this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 211 music performance degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $23,620 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. More information about a degree in music performance from Johns Hopkins University
California State University Northridge placed #20 among the best music performance schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. California State University Northridge graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 78 music performance students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $28,106 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,933. Get the full music performance details for California State University Northridge
Michigan State University placed #21 among the best music performance schools. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 72 music performance degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $40,570 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,750. Get the full music performance details for Michigan State University
San Diego State University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 59 music performance students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $20,440 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,131. Read more about the music performance program at San Diego State University
Boston University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 119 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $30,982. Boston University graduates carry a median of $26,957 in student loans. More information about a degree in music performance from Boston University
Lawrence University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. Set in the city of Appleton, Lawrence University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 42 music performance degrees were awarded at Lawrence University in the most recent year. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000. More information about a degree in music performance from Lawrence University
Florida State University came in at #25 for music performance this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 109 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $26,311 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,992 to complete this degree. See the full music performance program report for Florida State University
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong music performance education:
View the Best Music Performance Schools for a specific region near you.
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Music Performance is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 147 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
