by our College Data Analytics Team
[Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 7 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.
For graduate earnings in music, no school beat Ball State University this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a public institution. Early-career music graduates from Ball State University make a median of around $46,744 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Valparaiso University earned it the #2 place for music. Valparaiso University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Valparaiso. Early-career music graduates from Valparaiso University make a median of around $43,284 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Indiana State University earned it the #3 place for music. Indiana State University is a public school located in the city of Terre Haute. Early-career music graduates from Indiana State University make a median of around $45,102 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in music will find them at Depauw University, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Greencastle, Depauw University is a private not-for-profit institution. Music graduates of Depauw University earn a median of about $42,010 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #5 makes Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis one of the highest-paying schools for music. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,916.
University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne landed the #6 spot for music salaries this year. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,373.
Indiana University Bloomington placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for music. Indiana University Bloomington is a public school located in the city of Bloomington. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,250.
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 · 7 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.