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 highest-paying schools turn a music degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 28 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying music schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose music graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Academy Of Art University the top school for music graduate earnings in California. Academy Of Art University is a private for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Music graduates of Academy Of Art University earn a median of about $40,761 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #2 makes Azusa Pacific University one of the highest-paying schools for music. Azusa Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Azusa. After graduating, music degree recipients from Azusa Pacific University typically earn about $42,225 annually.
Los Angeles Film School came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. Set in the city of Hollywood, Los Angeles Film School is a private for-profit institution. Early-career music graduates from Los Angeles Film School make a median of around $29,529 per year.
A rank of #4 makes Claremont Graduate University one of the highest-paying schools for music. Claremont Graduate University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. Music graduates of Claremont Graduate University earn a median of about $48,663 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Music graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $49,601 a year early in their careers.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #6 position for music graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. Music graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of about $48,450 a year early in their careers.
The Masters College And Seminary landed the #7 spot for music salaries this year. The Masters College And Seminary is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. Music graduates of The Masters College And Seminary earn a median of about $31,340 a year early in their careers.
San Francisco State University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for music. San Francisco State University is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. Music graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of about $30,461 a year early in their careers.
San Francisco Conservatory Of Music earned the #9 position for music graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco Conservatory Of Music is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career music graduates from San Francisco Conservatory Of Music make a median of around $33,255 per year.
University Of California Davis placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for music. University Of California Davis is a public school located in the suburb of Davis. Early-career music graduates from University Of California Davis make a median of around $40,840 per year.
California State University Chico came in at #11 for music graduate earnings this year. California State University Chico is a public school located in the city of Chico. Early-career music graduates from California State University Chico make a median of around $39,537 per year.
California State University Northridge earned the #12 position for music graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a public institution. Music graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of about $42,939 a year early in their careers.
University Of California San Diego placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for music. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,134.
California State University Sacramento came in at #14 for music graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. Music graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of about $32,255 a year early in their careers.
California State University Monterey Bay came in at #15 for music graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $28,009.
California State University San Bernardino came in at #16 for music graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $27,724.
Chapman University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career music graduates from Chapman University make a median of around $44,976 per year.
San Diego State University came in at #18 for music graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $34,258.
California State University Fullerton came in at #19 for music graduate earnings this year. California State University Fullerton is a public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Early-career music graduates from California State University Fullerton make a median of around $26,392 per year.
Los Angeles Music Academy placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for music. Set in the city of Pasadena, Los Angeles Music Academy is a private for-profit institution. Early-career music graduates from Los Angeles Music Academy make a median of around $24,059 per year.
University Of Southern California landed the #21 spot for music salaries this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $28,389.
California Institute Of The Arts placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for music. California Institute Of The Arts is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Valencia. Early-career music graduates from California Institute Of The Arts make a median of around $32,924 per year.
California State University Los Angeles ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a public institution. Early-career music graduates from California State University Los Angeles make a median of around $21,509 per year.
California Lutheran University earned the #24 position for music graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from California Lutheran University typically earn about $20,650 annually.
University Of California Riverside landed the #25 spot for music salaries this year. University Of California Riverside is a public school located in the city of Riverside. Early-career music graduates from University Of California Riverside make a median of around $20,408 per year.
These schools also send music graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
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 · 28 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.
