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 4 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.
Leading the list is University Of Utah, our #1 for music graduate salaries in Utah. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a public institution. Early-career music graduates from University Of Utah make a median of around $51,815 per year.
Brigham Young University Provo produces some of the highest-paid graduates in music, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career music graduates from Brigham Young University Provo make a median of around $44,942 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in music will find them at Utah State University, which ranked #3. Utah State University is a public school located in the city of Logan. Music graduates of Utah State University earn a median of about $37,305 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in music will find them at Utah Valley University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a public institution. Early-career music graduates from Utah Valley University make a median of around $24,952 per year.
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.