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 highest-paying schools turn a music degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools to find where music graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send music graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Michigan State University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from Michigan State University typically earn about $55,509 annually.
Ball State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a public institution. Music graduates of Ball State University earn a median of about $43,116 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Northern Illinois University earned it the #3 place for music. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,434.
Illinois State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in music, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a public institution. Music graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of about $39,650 a year early in their careers.
Western Michigan University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a public institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from Western Michigan University typically earn about $52,649 annually.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for music salaries this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career music graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus make a median of around $44,464 per year.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for music. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career music graduates from Ohio State University Main Campus make a median of around $56,866 per year.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #8 for music graduate earnings this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public school located in the city of Madison. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,836.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #9 spot for music salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a public institution. Music graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of about $35,959 a year early in their careers.
Youngstown State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a public institution. Early-career music graduates from Youngstown State University make a median of around $34,657 per year.
University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #11 for music graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus typically earn about $34,253 annually.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #12 spot for music salaries this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Music graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $51,103 a year early in their careers.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #13 spot for music salaries this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Athens. Music graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of about $32,134 a year early in their careers.
Roosevelt University placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for music. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from Roosevelt University typically earn about $33,722 annually.
Depaul University came in at #15 for music graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. Music graduates of Depaul University earn a median of about $36,021 a year early in their careers.
Northwestern University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Music graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of about $40,834 a year early in their careers.
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #17 spot for music salaries this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. Early-career music graduates from Indiana University Bloomington make a median of around $40,133 per year.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $35,957.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for music. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor typically earn about $35,766 annually.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #20 position for music graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $28,081.
Cleveland Institute Of Music came in at #21 for music graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland Institute Of Music is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from Cleveland Institute Of Music typically earn about $40,664 annually.
The ranking above is published 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 · 21 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.