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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 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.
Our analysis ranked Eastern Illinois University the top school for music graduate earnings in Illinois. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a public institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University typically earn about $50,907 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Northwestern University earned it the #2 place for music. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. After graduating, music degree recipients from Northwestern University typically earn about $48,276 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Northern Illinois University earned it the #3 place for music. Northern Illinois University is a public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. After graduating, music degree recipients from Northern Illinois University typically earn about $31,511 annually.
Western Illinois University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in music, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a public institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from Western Illinois University typically earn about $46,354 annually.
Illinois Wesleyan University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in music, landing the #5 spot this year. Illinois Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bloomington. Early-career music graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University make a median of around $38,045 per year.
Illinois State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a public institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from Illinois State University typically earn about $44,586 annually.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #7 for music graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville typically earn about $34,079 annually.
Wheaton College Illinois landed the #8 spot for music salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,365.
Elmhurst College earned the #9 position for music graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a private not-for-profit institution. Music graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of about $38,722 a year early in their careers.
Bradley University earned the #10 position for music graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from Bradley University typically earn about $28,137 annually.
Millikin University came in at #11 for music graduate earnings this year. Millikin University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Decatur. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,433.
Depaul University earned the #12 position for music graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,267.
Roosevelt University placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for music. Set 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 $25,940 annually.
Columbia College Chicago ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $32,406.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #15 position for music graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign typically earn about $32,182 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 · 15 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.