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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Music in the Middle Atlantic Region

185 Ranked Colleges
$32,300 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2021-2022, 25,860 people earned their degree in music, making the major the 43rd most popular in the United States. In , music graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $27,123 and had an average of $27,532 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Middle Atlantic region, there were 4,667 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $25,863 and $31,476 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking looked at 185 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in music. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their music program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for middle atlantic region music students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Music in the Middle Atlantic Region

1
Manhattan School of Music crest
Manhattan School of Music
New York, New York

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Manhattan School of Music. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Manhattan School of Music is located in New York, New York and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 318 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Music at Manhattan School of Music

2
Juilliard crest
The Juilliard School
New York, New York

Out of the 185 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region that were part of this year’s ranking, The Juilliard School landed the #2 spot on the list. New York, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 274 students in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Music at The Juilliard School

3
Curtis Institute of Music crest
Curtis Institute of Music
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Curtis Institute of Music. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Curtis Institute of Music is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 62 ’s music degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 2 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Music at Curtis Institute of Music

4
Five Towns College crest
Five Towns College
Dix Hills, New York

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Five Towns College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Five Towns College is a small private for-profit school situated in Dix Hills, New York. It awarded 30 ’s music degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Five Towns College Music Report

5
UVF crest
University of Valley Forge
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Valley Forge. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region. UVF is a private not-for-profit institution located in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music at UVF

6
New School University crest
The New School
New York, New York

The New School came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. New School University is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 211 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at New School University

7
Bard crest
Bard College
Annandale-On-Hudson, New York

With a ranking of #7, Bard College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Annandale-On-Hudson, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 38 students in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Bard College Music Report

8
9
Purchase College crest
Purchase College
Purchase, New York

Purchase College ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Purchase, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 74 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at Purchase College

10
University of Rochester crest
University of Rochester
Rochester, New York

University of Rochester landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Rochester, New York, and it awarded 233 ’s music degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music at University of Rochester

11
UArts crest
The University of the Arts
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The University of the Arts landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 34 students in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at The University of the Arts

12
Messiah crest
Messiah University
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #12, Messiah University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Messiah University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. It awarded 42 ’s music degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Messiah University Music Report

13
SUNY Fredonia crest
SUNY Fredonia
Fredonia, New York

SUNY Fredonia landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. SUNY Fredonia is a public institution located in Fredonia, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full SUNY Fredonia Music Report

14
Rider crest
Rider University
Lawrenceville, New Jersey

Rider University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This small school is located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and it awarded 64 ’s music degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Music at Rider

15
SUNY Potsdam crest
SUNY Potsdam
Potsdam, New York

SUNY Potsdam landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. SUNY Potsdam is a public institution located in Potsdam, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 47 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Music at SUNY Potsdam

16
Ithaca crest
Ithaca College
Ithaca, New York

Ithaca College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #16. Ithaca, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 66 students in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Music at Ithaca

17
CUA crest
Catholic University of America
Washington, District of Columbia

With a ranking of #17, Catholic University of America did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. CUA is located in Washington, District of Columbia and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 36 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Music at Catholic University of America

18
LVC crest
Lebanon Valley College
Annville, Pennsylvania

Lebanon Valley College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Lebanon Valley College is located in Annville, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 28 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at LVC

19
Nyack crest
Nyack College
New York, New York

With a ranking of #19, Nyack College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. New York, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 12 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music at Nyack College

20
Houghton crest
Houghton College
Houghton, New York

Houghton College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Houghton College is located in Houghton, New York and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 12 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Houghton College Music Report

21

SUNY Schenectady County Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #21. SUNY Schenectady is a small school located in Schenectady, New York that handed out 34 ’s music degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Music at SUNY Schenectady

22
Cairn crest
Cairn University
Langhorne, Pennsylvania

Cairn University ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Cairn is a small school located in Langhorne, Pennsylvania that handed out 13 ’s music degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music at Cairn

23
Washington College crest
Washington College
Chestertown, Maryland

Washington College landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Chestertown, Maryland is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 2 students in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Washington College Music Report

24
Albright crest
Albright College
Reading, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #24, Albright College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Reading, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 7 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Albright College Music Report

25
Muhlenberg crest
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, Pennsylvania

Muhlenberg College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Muhlenberg College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It awarded 16 ’s music degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at Muhlenberg College

Rest of the Best 28 in Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Middle Atlantic Region

Not only did these schools make the top 28 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
Susquehanna crest
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, PA
27
28

Notes and References

References

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