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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 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.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #1 spot for highest-paid music graduates in Massachusetts. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,805.
Students chasing top earnings in music will find them at Boston University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,380.
A rank of #3 makes Longy School Of Music Of Bard College one of the highest-paying schools for music. Longy School Of Music Of Bard College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Music graduates of Longy School Of Music Of Bard College earn a median of about $30,660 a year early in their careers.
Berklee College Of Music came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. Berklee College Of Music is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. After graduating, music degree recipients from Berklee College Of Music typically earn about $37,356 annually.
A rank of #5 makes The New England Conservatory Of Music one of the highest-paying schools for music. Set in the city of Boston, The New England Conservatory Of Music is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from The New England Conservatory Of Music typically earn about $24,463 annually.
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 · 5 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.