2027 Best Music Performance Schools in the Great Lakes Region

1

Northwestern University
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University tops our 2027 ranking of the best music performance schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 44 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $28,057 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,166. See the full music performance program report for Northwestern University

2

Illinois State University
Normal, IL

A rank of #2 makes Illinois State University one of the top schools for music performance. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $35,863 early in their careers. 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

3

Butler University
Indianapolis, IN

Students looking for a strong music performance program will find one at Butler University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Butler University graduates 79% of students within six years. Butler University awarded about 10 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Butler University earn a median of $68,222 early in their careers. Butler University graduates carry a median of $24,170 in student loans. See the full music performance program report for Butler University

4

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI

A rank of #4 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the top schools for music performance. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 158 music performance degrees 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. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,397 in student loans. More information about a degree in music performance from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

5

University Of Wisconsin Madison
Madison, WI

University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #5 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. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. 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. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree. Get the full music performance details for University Of Wisconsin Madison

6

Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University placed #6 among the best music performance schools. Michigan State University is a very large public school 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. Music Performance graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $40,570 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete this degree. Get the full music performance details for Michigan State University

7

Lawrence University
Appleton, WI

Lawrence University came in at #7 for music performance this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Appleton. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 42 music performance degrees were awarded at Lawrence University in the most recent year. Lawrence University graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in music performance from Lawrence University

8

Ohio State University Main Campus
Columbus, OH

Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #8 position for music performance this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. About 10 music performance degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $35,209 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full music performance program report for Ohio State University Main Campus

9

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Champaign, IL

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #9 spot for music performance this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 15 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $25,536 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,625. More information about a degree in music performance from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

10

Indiana University Bloomington
Bloomington, IN

Indiana University Bloomington placed #10 among the best music performance schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 310 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $28,328 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,769 to complete this degree. See the full music performance program report for Indiana University Bloomington

11

Ohio University Main Campus
Athens, OH

Ohio University Main Campus earned the #11 position for music performance this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. About 27 music performance degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $34,193 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the music performance program at Ohio University Main Campus

12

Miami University Oxford
Oxford, OH

Miami University Oxford placed #12 among the best music performance schools. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 14 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $19,353 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full music performance details for Miami University Oxford

13

Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Depaul University awarded about 68 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $22,885. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $23,334 in student loans. Read more about the music performance program at Depaul University

14

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Cincinnati, OH

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #14 for music performance this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 147 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $22,533 in their early career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,946 in student loans. Get the full music performance details for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

15

Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL

Northern Illinois University came in at #15 for music performance this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. About 62 music performance degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Northern Illinois University earn around $41,632 in the first couple years of their career. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in music performance from Northern Illinois University

16

Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Bowling Green, OH

Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #16 position for music performance this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 53 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $27,559 in their early career. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the music performance program at Bowling Green State University Main Campus

17

Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI

Western Michigan University came in at #17 for music performance this year. This large public university is located in the city of Kalamazoo. Western Michigan University graduates 58% of students within six years. Western Michigan University awarded about 23 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $27,361 in their early career. Western Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the music performance program at Western Michigan University

18

Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH

Oberlin College placed #18 among the best music performance schools. Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Oberlin. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. About 88 music performance degrees were awarded at Oberlin College in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of Oberlin College earn a median of $17,141 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,200 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music performance from Oberlin College

19

University Of Akron Main Campus
Akron, OH

University Of Akron Main Campus ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. About 52% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Akron Main Campus in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $35,273 early in their careers. University Of Akron Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,062 in student loans. See the full music performance program report for University Of Akron Main Campus

20

Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL

Western Illinois University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 45% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $32,666 early in their careers. Western Illinois University graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in music performance from Western Illinois University

21

Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Central Michigan University graduates 59% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Central Michigan University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $24,911 in their early career. Central Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,975 in student loans. More information about a degree in music performance from Central Michigan University

22

Wright State University Main Campus
Dayton, OH

Wright State University Main Campus earned the #22 position for music performance this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Dayton. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Wright State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $49,077 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,836 to complete this degree. See the full music performance program report for Wright State University Main Campus

23

Cleveland Institute Of Music
Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Institute Of Music landed the #23 spot for music performance this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cleveland. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 97 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Cleveland Institute Of Music in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $19,558 in their early career. Cleveland Institute Of Music graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Get the full music performance details for Cleveland Institute Of Music