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2022 Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Music in Illinois

15 Colleges in Illinois
284 Master's Degrees
$22,567 Avg Early-Career Salary
A master's degree in music is more popular than many other degrees. In fact, it ranks #35 out of 326 on popularity of all such degrees in the nation. This means you won't have too much trouble finding schools that offer the degree.

College Factual reviewed 15 schools in Illinois to determine which ones were the most popular for master's degree seekers in the field of music. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 284 master's degrees in music during the 2019-2020 academic year.

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Choosing a Great Music School for Your Master's Degree

Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Music in Illinois Your choice of school for getting your master's degree in music matters. One of the reasons we created our Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Music in Illinois ranking is to help you make that choice.

While being high in popularity does not always mean a school has a quality music program, it is a sign that a large number of students choose the school. Sometimes this is because the school offers a great educational experience, it is a good value, or it is highly focused on the program.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Associate Degrees in Music
Bachelor's Degrees in Music
Doctor's Degrees in Music
Overall Popularity in Music

This ranking is just one of the many we have created. First of all, if you are interested in other degree levels, you may want to take a look at one of the rankings highlighted above. Also, if you are interested in attending school in a specific part of the country, see our rankings by location. Plus, you can view our other rankings for music.

Below you'll see a list of the most popular colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in music.

10 Most Well Attended Schools for Music Students Working on Their Master's

1
53 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Best Quality In IL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

Northwestern University is a popular choice for individuals interested in a master's degree in music. Northwestern is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Evanston. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for master's degrees in music in Illinois.

There were approximately 53 music individuals who graduated with this degree at Northwestern in the most recent data year.

Soon after graduating, music master's recipients typically earn around $21,900 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a master’s in music from Northwestern University

2
47 Annual Master's Degrees
#3 Best Quality In IL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is one of the most popular schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in music. Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public university with a very large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #3 in quality for master's degrees in music in Illinois.

There were approximately 47 music students who graduated with this degree at UIUC in the most recent data year.

Students who graduate with their master's from the music program state that they receive average early career earnings of $15,500.

More information about a master’s in music from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

3
40 Annual Master's Degrees
#12 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

DePaul University is one of the most popular schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in music. Located in the city of Chicago, DePaul is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.

There were about 40 music individuals who graduated with this degree at DePaul in the most recent data year.

Students who graduate with their master's from the music program report average early career income of $19,000.

More information about a master’s in music from DePaul University

4
29 Annual Master's Degrees
#11 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

You'll be surrounded by many like-minded peers at Northern Illinois University if you want to pursue a master's degree in music. NIU is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Dekalb.

There were roughly 29 music individuals who graduated with this degree at NIU in the most recent year we have data available.

Music master's degree recipients from Northern Illinois University get an earnings boost of approximately $2,333 over the average earnings of music majors.

More information about a master’s in music from Northern Illinois University

5
25 Annual Master's Degrees
#5 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State is a public university with a very large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #5 in quality for master's degrees in music in Illinois.

There were roughly 25 music students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State in the most recent year we have data available.

Master's recipients from the music program at Illinois State University get $9,133 more than the standard college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a master’s in music from Illinois State University

6
23 Annual Master's Degrees
#14 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the large city of Chicago, Roosevelt is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.

There were about 23 music individuals who graduated with this degree at Roosevelt in the most recent data year.

After graduation, music master's recipients usually make about $22,400 in their early careers.

More information about a master’s in music from Roosevelt University

7
14 Annual Master's Degrees
#8 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, SIUE is a public university with a large student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #8 in quality for master's degrees in music in Illinois.

There were roughly 14 music individuals who graduated with this degree at SIUE in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in music from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

8
13 Annual Master's Degrees
#7 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

WIU is a moderately-sized public university located in the town of Macomb. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #7 in quality for master's degrees in music in Illinois.

There were roughly 13 music students who graduated with this degree at WIU in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in music from Western Illinois University

9
11 Annual Master's Degrees
#13 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the large city of Chicago, Columbia is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

There were about 11 music students who graduated with this degree at Columbia in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in music from Columbia College Chicago

10
9 Annual Master's Degrees
#10 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the city of Carbondale, SIUC is a public university with a large student population.

There were about 9 music students who graduated with this degree at SIUC in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in music from Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Best Music Colleges in the Great Lakes Region

Explore all the Most Popular Music Colleges in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.

StateCollegesDegrees Awarded
Michigan203218
Ohio195339
Indiana181193
Wisconsin16640

View All Rankings >

One of 10 majors within the Visual & Performing Arts area of study, Music has other similar majors worth exploring.

Music Focus Areas

MajorAnnual Graduates
General Music154
Music Performance49
Voice Performance23
Stringed Instruments19
Other Music11
Keyboard Instruments10
Jazz Studies5
Conducting4
Music Theory & Composition4
Musicology & Ethnomusicology2

Related MajorAnnual Graduates
Fine & Studio Arts275
Drama & Theater Arts101
Arts & Media Management96
Film, Video & Photographic Arts85
Design & Applied Arts53
Other Visual Art9
General Visual & Performing Arts9
Dance4

Notes and References

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