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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for music performance students pursuing a degree.
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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.
Leading the list is Boise State University, our #1 school for music performance. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 music performance degrees were awarded at Boise State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Boise State University earn around $49,059 in the first couple years of their career. Boise State University graduates carry a median of $24,311 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music performance from Boise State University
Students looking for a strong music performance program will find one at Brigham Young University Idaho, which ranked #2. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 31 music performance degrees were awarded at Brigham Young University Idaho in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Brigham Young University Idaho earn around $43,853 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,541.
Get the full music performance details for Brigham Young University Idaho
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 5 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.
