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2027 Best Music Performance Schools in the Southwest Region

19 Colleges in the United States
603 Music Performance Degrees Awarded
$36,562 Avg Early-Career Salary

Music Performance programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best music performance schools.

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Best Schools for Music Performance in the Southwest Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall music performance education in the Southwest Region.

Top Schools in Music Performance

1

Leading the list is University Of Houston, our #1 school for music performance. This very large public university is located in the city of Houston. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Houston awarded about 12 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $52,799 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Get the full music performance details for University Of Houston

2

A rank of #2 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the top schools for music performance. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 music performance students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $33,937 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full music performance program report for The University Of Texas At Austin

3

Students looking for a strong music performance program will find one at The University Of Texas At Arlington, which ranked #3. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public school located in the city of Arlington. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 13 music performance degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Arlington in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Arlington generally make around $37,020. Students borrow a median of $24,911 to complete this degree. See the full music performance program report for The University Of Texas At Arlington

4

A rank of #4 makes Southern Methodist University one of the top schools for music performance. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Southern Methodist University graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 36 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $26,308 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,417. Get the full music performance details for Southern Methodist University

5

A rank of #5 makes University Of North Texas one of the top schools for music performance. This very large public university is located in the city of Denton. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 132 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Texas in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $36,763. Typical student debt for the program is $24,456. Get the full music performance details for University Of North Texas

6

Texas State University San Marcos placed #6 among the best music performance schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Marcos. Texas State University San Marcos graduates 55% of students within six years. About 15 music performance degrees were awarded at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $39,318 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,241. Get the full music performance details for Texas State University San Marcos

7

Texas Christian University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fort Worth. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 20 music performance degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $60,035. Typical student debt for the program is $23,500. Get the full music performance details for Texas Christian University

8

Arizona State University landed the #8 spot for music performance this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 81 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Arizona State University earn around $26,653 in the first couple years of their career. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $21,504 in student loans. Read more about the music performance program at Arizona State University

9

University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best music performance schools. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norman. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates 75% of students within six years. About 19 music performance degrees were awarded at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $17,665 early in their careers. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates carry a median of $21,639 in student loans. Read more about the music performance program at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus

10

Northern Arizona University landed the #10 spot for music performance this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Flagstaff. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 music performance degrees were awarded at Northern Arizona University in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $47,056 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,645. Get the full music performance details for Northern Arizona University

11

Mesa Community College placed #11 among the best music performance schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Mesa. About 10 music performance degrees were awarded at Mesa Community College in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete this degree. See the full music performance program report for Mesa Community College

12

Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #12 among the best music performance schools. Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glendale. Glendale Community College Glendale Az awarded about 15 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Glendale Community College Glendale Az generally make around $51,483. Students borrow a median of $15,996 to complete this degree. See the full music performance program report for Glendale Community College Glendale Az

13

Baylor University earned the #13 position for music performance this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Waco. Baylor University graduates 80% of students within six years. Baylor University awarded about 48 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Baylor University generally make around $10,210. Baylor University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full music performance program report for Baylor University

14

University Of Arizona landed the #14 spot for music performance this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. University Of Arizona graduates 68% of students within six years. About 13 music performance degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from University Of Arizona earn around $30,157 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,800 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music performance from University Of Arizona

15
Oklahoma City University crest
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City University came in at #15 for music performance this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City University graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 49 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Oklahoma City University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $22,203 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,456. More information about a degree in music performance from Oklahoma City University

16

University Of Central Oklahoma came in at #16 for music performance this year. Set in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public institution. About 37% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Oklahoma in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of Central Oklahoma generally make around $25,548. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete this degree. See the full music performance program report for University Of Central Oklahoma

17

University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #17 for music performance this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Albuquerque. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. University Of New Mexico Main Campus awarded about 54 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $49,983 in their early career. University Of New Mexico Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,738 in student loans. Read more about the music performance program at University Of New Mexico Main Campus

18
South Plains College crest
South Plains College
Levelland, TX

South Plains College came in at #18 for music performance this year. Set in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public institution. There were roughly 18 music performance students who graduated with this degree at South Plains College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $30,949 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,788. See the full music performance program report for South Plains College

19

New Mexico State University Main Campus landed the #19 spot for music performance this year. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 11 music performance degrees were awarded at New Mexico State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from New Mexico State University Main Campus earn around $41,860 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,026. More information about a degree in music performance from New Mexico State University Main Campus

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 19 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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