Music Performance programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 509 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for music performance students pursuing a degree.
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Below are the best music performance schools at the associate’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Chandler Gilbert Community College tops our 2026 ranking of the best music performance schools. This large public university is located in the city of Chandler. About 11 music performance degrees were awarded at Chandler Gilbert Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $46,943 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,447.
Read more about the music performance program at Chandler Gilbert Community College
Utah Valley University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music performance, ranking #2. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 music performance degrees were awarded at Utah Valley University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $24,952 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,478 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music performance program at Utah Valley University
A rank of #3 makes Onondaga Community College one of the top schools for music performance. Located in the suburb of Syracuse, Onondaga Community College is a large public university. About 13 music performance degrees were awarded at Onondaga Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Onondaga Community College earn around $35,781 in the first couple years of their career. Onondaga Community College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
Read more about the music performance program at Onondaga Community College
Volunteer State Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music performance, ranking #4. Set in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 23 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Volunteer State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $40,137 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,462 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music performance from Volunteer State Community College
South Plains College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Set in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public institution. South Plains College awarded about 10 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from South Plains College generally make around $30,949. South Plains College graduates carry a median of $13,788 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music performance from South Plains College
Musicians Institute came in at #6 for music performance this year. Musicians Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Hollywood. Musicians Institute graduates 47% of students within six years. There were roughly 43 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Musicians Institute in the most recent data year.
See the full music performance program report for Musicians Institute
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Music Performance rankings across degree levels:
View All Music Performance Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 509 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.
