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 26 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 the Middle Atlantic Region.
University Of Maryland College Park is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in music performance. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. About 89% of students finish 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.
Read more about the music performance program at University Of Maryland College Park
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music performance, ranking #2. 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. There were roughly 10 music performance students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
See the full music performance program report for West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 92 music performance degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent 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.
Read more about the music performance program at Rutgers University New Brunswick
New York University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music performance, ranking #4. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. New York University awarded about 155 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of New York University earn a median of $28,287 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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A rank of #5 makes Messiah College one of the top schools for music performance. Set in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. Messiah College awarded about 36 music performance degrees 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. Typical student debt for the program is $25,965.
See the full music performance program report for Messiah College
Johns Hopkins University earned the #6 position for music performance this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 211 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $23,620 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
See the full music performance program report for Johns Hopkins University
Montclair State University landed the #7 spot for music performance this year. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 27 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Montclair State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Montclair State University earn around $41,164 in the first couple years of their career. Montclair State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the music performance program at Montclair State University
Bard College came in at #8 for music performance this year. Located in the rural area of Annandale-On-Hudson, Bard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 55 music performance degrees were awarded at Bard College in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of Bard College earn a median of $30,660 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,402 to complete this degree.
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Ithaca College came in at #9 for music performance this year. Located in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Ithaca College graduates 76% of students within six years. Ithaca College awarded about 24 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Ithaca College earn around $23,119 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the music performance program at Ithaca College
Temple University came in at #10 for music performance this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Temple University awarded about 47 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Temple University earn around $20,667 in the first couple years of their career. Temple University graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
Read more about the music performance program at Temple University
Cuny Hunter College came in at #11 for music performance this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 14 music performance degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $33,384 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,091.
See the full music performance program report for Cuny Hunter College
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #12 for music performance this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 music performance degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $23,278 in their early career. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $24,431 in student loans.
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Lebanon Valley College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. Located in the suburb of Annville, Lebanon Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 65% of students finish within six years. Lebanon Valley College awarded about 13 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Lebanon Valley College earn a median of $49,383 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,846 to complete this degree.
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Stony Brook University landed the #14 spot for music performance this year. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Stony Brook University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Stony Brook University earn around $34,264 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,537.
See the full music performance program report for Stony Brook University
Catholic University Of America placed #15 among the best music performance schools. Set in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Catholic University Of America graduates 80% of students within six years. Catholic University Of America awarded about 12 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $23,856 in their early career. Catholic University Of America graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans.
Read more about the music performance program at Catholic University Of America
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #16 position for music performance this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 18 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $18,462 in their early career. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,923 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music performance from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
The New School landed the #17 spot for music performance this year. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 70% of students finish within six years. The New School awarded about 77 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from The New School earn around $15,510 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
See the full music performance program report for The New School
Suny At Fredonia came in at #18 for music performance this year. Set in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public institution. Suny At Fredonia graduates 50% of students within six years. About 35 music performance degrees were awarded at Suny At Fredonia in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Suny At Fredonia earn around $35,849 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Rochester ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 166 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rochester in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from University Of Rochester earn around $27,409 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,769.
More information about a degree in music performance from University Of Rochester
Duquesne University placed #20 among the best music performance schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 music performance degrees were awarded at Duquesne University in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of Duquesne University earn a median of $27,854 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full music performance program report for Duquesne University
Cuny Laguardia Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. Set in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 10 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Laguardia Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $31,437 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,858 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music performance program at Cuny Laguardia Community College
Suny At Purchase College placed #22 among the best music performance schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Purchase. Suny At Purchase College graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Purchase College in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Suny At Purchase College earn a median of $22,569 early in their careers. Suny At Purchase College graduates carry a median of $22,179 in student loans.
Read more about the music performance program at Suny At Purchase College
Curtis Institute Of Music came in at #23 for music performance this year. Curtis Institute Of Music is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. About 100% of students finish within six years. Curtis Institute Of Music awarded about 20 music performance degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full music performance program report for Curtis Institute Of Music
Cuny Queens College placed #24 among the best music performance schools. This large public university is located in the city of Queens. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Queens College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $27,902. Typical student debt for the program is $12,157.
More information about a degree in music performance from Cuny Queens College
Onondaga Community College came in at #25 for music performance this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Syracuse. There were roughly 12 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Onondaga Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $35,781 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music performance from Onondaga Community College
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s music performance ranking:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 26 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.