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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 7 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 schools that deliver the strongest overall music performance education in the New England Region.
Boston University tops our 2027 ranking of the best music performance schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 119 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Boston University earn a median of $30,982 early in their careers. Boston University graduates carry a median of $26,957 in student loans.
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Yale University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music performance, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Yale University awarded about 25 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $21,250 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong music performance program will find one at University Of Massachusetts Amherst, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates 83% of students within six years. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 18 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $30,429 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Longy School Of Music Of Bard College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music performance, ranking #4. Longy School Of Music Of Bard College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. There were roughly 14 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Longy School Of Music Of Bard College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Longy School Of Music Of Bard College generally make around $30,660.
More information about a degree in music performance from Longy School Of Music Of Bard College
A rank of #5 makes Berklee College Of Music one of the top schools for music performance. Set in the city of Boston, Berklee College Of Music is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 371 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Berklee College Of Music in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $21,670 in their early career. Berklee College Of Music graduates carry a median of $24,979 in student loans.
Get the full music performance details for Berklee College Of Music
University Of Southern Maine came in at #6 for music performance this year. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public institution. University Of Southern Maine graduates 40% of students within six years. About 16 music performance degrees were awarded at University Of Southern Maine in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of Southern Maine generally make around $47,003. Students borrow a median of $23,593 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music performance program at University Of Southern Maine
The New England Conservatory Of Music ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. There were roughly 13 music performance students who graduated with this degree at The New England Conservatory Of Music in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of The New England Conservatory Of Music earn a median of $24,499 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,991 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music performance program at The New England Conservatory Of Music
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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 · 7 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.
