Music Performance degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their music performance programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools to find the best for music performance students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall music performance education in Illinois.
Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the best school in the country for a degree in music performance. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school 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. Students who receive their music performance degree from Northwestern University earn around $28,057 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,166 to complete this degree.
Get the full music performance details for Northwestern University
Illinois State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music performance, ranking #2. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 16 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $35,863. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
See the full music performance program report for Illinois State University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. 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.
Read more about the music performance program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Students looking for a strong music performance program will find one at Depaul University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Depaul University awarded about 68 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Depaul University earn around $22,885 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,334.
Read more about the music performance program at Depaul University
A rank of #5 makes Northern Illinois University one of the top schools for music performance. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 62 music performance degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $41,632 early in their careers. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans.
Read more about the music performance program at Northern Illinois University
Western Illinois University landed the #6 spot for music performance this year. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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.
See the full music performance program report for Western Illinois University
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Notes and References
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 · 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.
