by our College Data Analytics Team
[Music](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a music degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the early-career earnings of their music graduates.
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 Michigan State University this year. Michigan State University is a public school located in the city of East Lansing. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,173.
Students chasing top earnings in music will find them at Grand Valley State University, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a public institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from Grand Valley State University typically earn about $45,043 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Wayne State University one of the highest-paying schools for music. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a public institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from Wayne State University typically earn about $46,187 annually.
Central Michigan University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in music, landing the #4 spot this year. Central Michigan University is a public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,725.
Western Michigan University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. Western Michigan University is a public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,267.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for music. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,775.
This list is compiled 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 · 6 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.