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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Music in the Plains States Region

146 Ranked Colleges
1,308 Degrees Awarded
$25,400 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region” ranking.

Music is the 43rd most popular major in the country with 25,910 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, music graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $27,160 and had an average of $24,560 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,308 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,383 and $23,796 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 146 colleges that offer a degree in music. That schools that top this list have a program in music in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 Plains States Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Music in the Plains States Region

1
Calvary crest
Calvary University
Kansas City, Missouri

Out of the 146 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Calvary University landed the #1 spot on the list. Calvary University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 4 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

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.

Read more about Music at Calvary

2
Luther crest
Luther College
Decorah, Iowa

Out of the 146 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Luther College landed the #2 spot on the list. Luther is located in Decorah, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Luther Music Report

3
St. Olaf crest
St Olaf College
Northfield, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend St Olaf College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region. Northfield, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 53 students in 2020-2021.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read full report on Music at St. Olaf

4
Bethel College - North Newton crest
Bethel College - North Newton
North Newton, Kansas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bethel College - North Newton. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region. North Newton, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Music at Bethel College - North Newton

5
Valley City State University crest
Valley City State University
Valley City, North Dakota

Out of the 146 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Valley City State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Valley City, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.

Full Valley City State University Music Report

6
Concordia College Moorhead crest
Concordia College at Moorhead
Moorhead, Minnesota

Concordia College at Moorhead ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region list. Moorhead, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 Concordia College Moorhead

7
BLC crest
Bethany Lutheran College
Mankato, Minnesota

Bethany Lutheran College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. BLC is a small school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 4 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

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 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music at Bethany Lutheran College

8

University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, this fairly large public school awarded 111 degrees to qualified ’s music students in 2020-2021.

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%.

Read more about Music at UMKC

9
Truman State crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

With a ranking of #9, Truman State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region list. Truman State is a small school located in Kirksville, Missouri that handed out 30 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Truman State Music Report

10
Coe crest
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Coe College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified ’s music students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Coe Music Report

11
Simpson College crest
Simpson College
Indianola, Iowa

Simpson College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Indianola, Iowa 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 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Simpson College Music Report

12
Urshan College crest
Urshan College
Wentzville, Missouri

Urshan College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Urshan College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wentzville, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Music at Urshan College

13
Benedictine College crest
Benedictine College
Atchison, Kansas

Benedictine College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Benedictine College is located in Atchison, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at Benedictine College

14
Gustavus Adolphus crest
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, Minnesota

With a ranking of #14, Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region list. Gustavus Adolphus is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Full Gustavus Adolphus Music Report

15
Wartburg crest
Wartburg College
Waverly, Iowa

Wartburg College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #15. Wartburg College is located in Waverly, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Wartburg College Music Report

16
ESU crest
Emporia State University
Emporia, Kansas

Emporia State University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Emporia, Kansas, and it awarded 30 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 Emporia State University

17
Cornell College crest
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, Iowa

Cornell College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. Cornell College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Mount Vernon, Iowa. It awarded 5 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.

Read full report on Music at Cornell College

18
CSB crest
College of Saint Benedict
Saint Joseph, Minnesota

College of Saint Benedict ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region list. College of Saint Benedict is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Joseph, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read more about Music at CSB

19
East Central College crest
East Central College
Union, Missouri

With a ranking of #19, East Central College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region list. Union, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Music at East Central College

20
Cottey College crest
Cottey College
Nevada, Missouri

With a ranking of #20, Cottey College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region list. Nevada, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 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 Cottey College

21

University of Minnesota - Morris did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #21. UMN Morris is located in Morris, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s music degrees to qualified students.

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%.

Read more about Music at University of Minnesota - Morris

22
NSU crest
Northern State University
Aberdeen, South Dakota

Northern State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #22. This small school is located in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and it awarded 8 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full NSU Music Report

23
NWC crest
Northwestern College
Orange City, Iowa

Northwestern College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Northwestern College is a small school located in Orange City, Iowa that handed out 5 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 Northwestern College

24
North Central University crest
North Central University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

North Central University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 3 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full North Central University Music Report

25
UNI crest
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #25. UNI is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 36 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 UNI

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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