by our College Data Analytics Team
[Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their music graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 100 schools on the early-career earnings of their music graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose music graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in music, no school beat Vanderbilt University this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career music graduates from Vanderbilt University make a median of around $79,962 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Rhode Island earned it the #2 place for music. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a public institution. Music graduates of University Of Rhode Island earn a median of about $60,062 a year early in their careers.
Texas A And M University Kingsville came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. Texas A And M University Kingsville is a public school located in the town of Kingsville. Music graduates of Texas A And M University Kingsville earn a median of about $60,646 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Texas Pan American one of the highest-paying schools for music. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a public institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American typically earn about $59,947 annually.
A rank of #5 makes The University Of Texas At El Paso one of the highest-paying schools for music. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,062.
University Of Houston landed the #6 spot for music salaries this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,649.
Sam Houston State University earned the #7 position for music graduate earnings this year. Sam Houston State University is a public school located in the town of Huntsville. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,434.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earned the #8 position for music graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a public institution. Music graduates of Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn a median of about $53,767 a year early in their careers.
Dallas Baptist University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for music. Located in the city of Dallas, Dallas Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,407.
North Dakota State University Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,625.
Stephen F Austin State University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for music. Set in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a public institution. Early-career music graduates from Stephen F Austin State University make a median of around $57,180 per year.
Auburn University came in at #12 for music graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a public institution. Early-career music graduates from Auburn University make a median of around $51,177 per year.
Texas State University San Marcos earned the #13 position for music graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a public institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos typically earn about $51,050 annually.
West Texas A And M University landed the #14 spot for music salaries this year. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a public institution. Music graduates of West Texas A And M University earn a median of about $51,184 a year early in their careers.
Texas A And M University Commerce landed the #15 spot for music salaries this year. Set in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a public institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from Texas A And M University Commerce typically earn about $48,875 annually.
Texas Tech University landed the #16 spot for music salaries this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,813.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a public school located in the city of San Antonio. After graduating, music degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio typically earn about $55,874 annually.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for music. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,244.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #19 spot for music salaries this year. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a public school located in the suburb of West Chester. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,684.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney landed the #20 spot for music salaries this year. Set in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a public institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Kearney typically earn about $48,195 annually.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas landed the #21 spot for music salaries this year. University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a public school located in the city of Las Vegas. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,099.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #22 for music graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,666.
Lamar University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,712.
Ball State University placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for music. Ball State University is a public school located in the city of Muncie. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,744.
Lebanon Valley College earned the #25 position for music graduate earnings this year. Lebanon Valley College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Annville. Early-career music graduates from Lebanon Valley College make a median of around $42,353 per year.
These schools also send music graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
These schools earned honorable mentions for music graduate pay:
| Rank | College | Location | Avg Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #51 | Coastal Carolina University | Conway, SC | $41,810 | Full Report |
| #52 | Suny College At Buffalo | Buffalo, NY | $41,427 | Full Report |
| #53 | University Of Wisconsin Platteville | Platteville, WI | $41,386 | Full Report |
| #54 | University Of Oregon | Eugene, OR | $41,338 | Full Report |
| #55 | Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN | $40,916 | Full Report |
| #56 | Southeastern Louisiana University | Hammond, LA | $39,983 | Full Report |
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Music rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their music graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 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.
