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 5 schools on the early-career earnings of their music graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose music graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is University Of Missouri St Louis, our #1 for music graduate salaries in Missouri. University Of Missouri St Louis is a public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,194.
Students chasing top earnings in music will find them at University Of Central Missouri, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a public institution. Music graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of about $46,340 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Missouri Columbia earned it the #3 place for music. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. After graduating, music degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia typically earn about $35,939 annually.
A rank of #4 makes Webster University one of the highest-paying schools for music. Webster University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. After graduating, music degree recipients from Webster University typically earn about $27,519 annually.
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying music schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public institution. Students who complete the music program here go on to a median salary of roughly $34,674.
This list is compiled 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.