Music Performance degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools to find the best for music performance students.
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Featured Music Performance Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
MBA in Music Business
Earn the music business degree that fits into the business world – and partners Southern New Hampshire University with world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
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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.
Oregon State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in music performance. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 music performance degrees were awarded at Oregon State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $29,630 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,184.
More information about a degree in music performance from Oregon State University
University Of Oregon 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 Eugene. About 72% of students finish within six years. University Of Oregon awarded about 35 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $20,707 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,583.
Read more about the music performance program at University Of Oregon
Students looking for a strong music performance program will find one at Portland State University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 14 music performance degrees were awarded at Portland State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Portland State University earn around $17,638 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,846 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music performance program at Portland State University
More Music Performance Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 6 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.
