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 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying music schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send music graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
University Of Maryland College Park tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools in Maryland. University Of Maryland College Park is a public school located in the suburb of College Park. Early-career music graduates from University Of Maryland College Park make a median of around $47,666 per year.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a public institution. Early-career music graduates from University Of Maryland Baltimore County make a median of around $35,622 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Towson University earned it the #3 place for music. Towson University is a public school located in the city of Towson. Music graduates of Towson University earn a median of about $41,706 a year early in their careers.
Johns Hopkins University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University typically earn about $16,479 annually.
This ranking is produced 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 · 4 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.