by our College Data Analytics Team
[Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their music graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying music schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send music graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Finger Lakes Community College tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools in the United States. Finger Lakes Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Canandaigua. Early-career music graduates from Finger Lakes Community College make a median of around $38,805 per year.
A rank of #2 makes El Centro College one of the highest-paying schools for music. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a public institution. Music graduates of El Centro College earn a median of about $27,716 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Los Angeles Film School one of the highest-paying schools for music. Los Angeles Film School is a private for-profit school located in the city of Hollywood. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $29,529.
A rank of #4 makes Valencia College one of the highest-paying schools for music. Located in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a public institution. Music graduates of Valencia College earn a median of about $25,895 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #5 makes South Plains College one of the highest-paying schools for music. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $23,595.
Full Sail University earned the #6 position for music graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a private for-profit institution. Early-career music graduates from Full Sail University make a median of around $23,018 per year.
Shoreline Community College landed the #7 spot for music salaries this year. Shoreline Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Shoreline. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $18,778.
Atlanta Institute Of Music And Media earned the #8 position for music graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Duluth, Atlanta Institute Of Music And Media is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $16,086.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Music rankings across degree levels:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries music graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 8 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.