Music Performance is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 41 schools to find the best for music performance students.
What’s on this page:
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.
No school ranked higher than University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill this year for music performance. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 10 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $32,880 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music performance from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Furman University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. Located in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. About 10 music performance degrees were awarded at Furman University in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of Furman University earn a median of $36,520 early in their careers. Furman University graduates carry a median of $20,830 in student loans.
Read more about the music performance program at Furman University
A rank of #3 makes James Madison University one of the top schools for music performance. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 68 music performance students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $36,106 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,968 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music performance program at James Madison University
George Mason University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 45 music performance students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $34,841 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,048 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music performance from George Mason University
Florida State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music performance, ranking #5. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 109 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $26,311. Typical student debt for the program is $23,992.
Read more about the music performance program at Florida State University
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earned the #6 position for music performance this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Charlotte. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $38,831 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,858.
Read more about the music performance program at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earned the #7 position for music performance this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Baton Rouge. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College awarded about 68 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn around $28,530 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,455.
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University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #8 for music performance this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. There were roughly 52 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from University Of South Carolina Columbia earn around $38,397 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 University Of South Carolina Columbia
University Of Central Florida came in at #9 for music performance this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Orlando. About 78% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 41 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $21,957 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,567.
See the full music performance program report for University Of Central Florida
University Of Georgia earned the #10 position for music performance this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 16 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $24,514 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,344 to complete this degree.
See the full music performance program report for University Of Georgia
University Of Miami came in at #11 for music performance this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 32 music performance degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from University Of Miami earn around $23,991 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $13,998 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music performance from University Of Miami
Old Dominion University came in at #12 for music performance this year. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. Old Dominion University graduates 46% of students within six years. Old Dominion University awarded about 21 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $57,131 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music performance program at Old Dominion University
Belmont University landed the #13 spot for music performance this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 music performance degrees were awarded at Belmont University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $27,517. Students borrow a median of $25,988 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music performance from Belmont University
Appalachian State University placed #14 among the best music performance schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Boone. Appalachian State University graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Appalachian State University in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $23,304 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full music performance program report for Appalachian State University
University Of Arkansas ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fayetteville. About 70% of students finish within six years. University Of Arkansas awarded about 33 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from University Of Arkansas earn around $38,811 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full music performance program report for University Of Arkansas
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #16 among the best music performance schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tampa. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 41 music performance degrees were awarded at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $52,885. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans.
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Western Carolina University earned the #17 position for music performance this year. This large public university is located in the town of Cullowhee. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 26 music performance degrees were awarded at Western Carolina University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Western Carolina University earn around $26,135 in the first couple years of their career. Western Carolina University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full music performance program report for Western Carolina University
Florida Gulf Coast University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 13 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Florida Gulf Coast University in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Florida Gulf Coast University earn a median of $50,726 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,015.
See the full music performance program report for Florida Gulf Coast University
Virginia Commonwealth University placed #19 among the best music performance schools. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 34 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Virginia Commonwealth University earn around $28,989 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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The University Of West Florida landed the #20 spot for music performance this year. The University Of West Florida is a large public school located in the rural area of Pensacola. The University Of West Florida graduates 59% of students within six years. The University Of West Florida awarded about 14 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from The University Of West Florida earn around $47,141 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of West Florida graduates carry a median of $19,677 in student loans.
Read more about the music performance program at The University Of West Florida
University Of North Florida landed the #21 spot for music performance this year. This large public university is located in the city of Jacksonville. University Of North Florida graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Florida in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $24,405 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,188 to complete this degree.
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University Of Kentucky landed the #22 spot for music performance this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Lexington. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. There were roughly 20 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kentucky in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $30,818 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts placed #23 among the best music performance schools. Located in the city of Winston Salem, University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts is a small public university. University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts graduates 78% of students within six years. There were roughly 52 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts earn a median of $19,939 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,143 to complete this degree.
See the full music performance program report for University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts
Georgia State University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Atlanta. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Georgia State University awarded about 62 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $29,304 in their early career. Georgia State University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Western Kentucky University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. Western Kentucky University graduates 58% of students within six years. Western Kentucky University awarded about 13 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $34,766 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,317 to complete this degree.
Get the full music performance details for Western Kentucky University
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. 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 · 41 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.