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 56 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best music performance schools.
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.
Our analysis ranked University Of Northern Iowa the best school in the country for a degree in music performance. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $32,175 early in their careers. University Of Northern Iowa graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music performance from University Of Northern Iowa
University Of Missouri Kansas City is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music performance, ranking #2. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 72 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $32,144 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,089.
More information about a degree in music performance from University Of Missouri Kansas City
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Missouri State University Springfield awarded about 18 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $46,503 in their early career. Missouri State University Springfield graduates carry a median of $24,408 in student loans.
See the full music performance program report for Missouri State University Springfield
Students looking for a strong music performance program will find one at Wichita State University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. Wichita State University graduates 51% of students within six years. Wichita State University awarded about 16 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $49,278 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,262.
Read more about the music performance program at Wichita State University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 56 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.
