by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual looked at 25 colleges and universities when compiling its 2024 Best Music Master's Degree Schools in California ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 498 master's degrees in music to qualified students.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
The music master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality music program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for music students working on their master's degree.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Music Master's Degree Schools in California list, to help you choose the best school for you.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Earn the music business degree that fits into the business world – and partners Southern New Hampshire University with world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for music students seeking a a master's degree.
University of Southern California is a great decision for individuals interested in a master's degree in music. USC is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Los Angeles.
Students who graduate with their master's from the music program report average early career wages of $22,177.
More information about a master’s in music from University of Southern California
University of California - Los Angeles is a good option for individuals interested in a master's degree in music. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in music from University of California - Los Angeles
San Francisco Conservatory of Music is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a master's degree in music. SFCM is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco.
After graduating, music master's recipients usually earn an average of $20,970 in their early careers.
More information about a master’s in music from San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Every student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in music needs to check out University of California - Berkeley. UC Berkeley is a very large public university located in the midsize city of Berkeley.More information about a master’s in music from University of California - Berkeley
Located in the city of Redlands, University of Redlands is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.More information about a master’s in music from University of Redlands
UC Irvine is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Irvine.More information about a master’s in music from University of California - Irvine
UCSD is a fairly large public university located in the city of La Jolla.More information about a master’s in music from University of California - San Diego
Chapman is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Orange.More information about a master’s in music from Chapman University
Azusa Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Azusa.More information about a master’s in music from Azusa Pacific University
Located in the small suburb of Davis, UC Davis is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in music from University of California - Davis
Explore all the Best Music Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 183 | 47 |
| Oregon | 158 | 63 |
| Nevada | 105 | 27 |
| Hawaii | 85 | 7 |
| Alaska | 52 | 0 |
Music is one of 10 different types of Visual & Performing Arts programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Music | 156 |
| Music Performance | 116 |
| Music Theory & Composition | 53 |
| Other Music | 46 |
| Stringed Instruments | 43 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 27 |
| Voice Performance | 25 |
| Woodwind Instruments | 12 |
| Jazz Studies | 10 |
| Musicology & Ethnomusicology | 5 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 744 |
| Fine & Studio Arts | 367 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 336 |
| Design & Applied Arts | 193 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 60 |
| Dance | 56 |
| Arts & Media Management | 51 |
| Other Visual Art | 12 |
