Music programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 418 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best music schools.
The school you choose for music can shape your career. To help, we created our Best Music Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Music School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Music Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the music degrees they offer, see the list below.
Dartmouth College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in music. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Dartmouth College graduates 96% of students within six years. Dartmouth College awarded about 16 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $81,992 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,989.
See the full music program report for Dartmouth College
A rank of #2 makes Vanderbilt University one of the top schools for music. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 49 music students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $77,997 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music program at Vanderbilt University
San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music, ranking #3. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 58 music degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the music program at San Jose State University
Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music, landing the #4 spot this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 music students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $100,827 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
Get the full music details for Stanford University
A rank of #5 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the top schools for music. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 29 music degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Music graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $32,880 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full music details for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of Florida came in at #6 for music this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 74 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $22,559 in their early career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans.
See the full music program report for University Of Florida
Brown University landed the #7 spot for music this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 24 music degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $62,820. Typical student debt for the program is $13,025.
More information about a degree in music from Brown University
The College Of New Jersey landed the #8 spot for music this year. The College Of New Jersey is a large public school located in the suburb of Ewing. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 music students who graduated with this degree at The College Of New Jersey in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from The College Of New Jersey generally make around $56,617. Students borrow a median of $24,429 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for The College Of New Jersey
Harvard University came in at #9 for music this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 music students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
More information about a degree in music from Harvard University
University Of Maryland College Park placed #10 among the best music schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 103 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Music graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $52,541 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,614 to complete this degree.
Get the full music details for University Of Maryland College Park
Northwestern University earned the #11 position for music this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 161 music students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $28,057. Students borrow a median of $18,166 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from Northwestern University
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #12 position for music this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 21 music degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $69,126 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,131 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
Auburn University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Auburn University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 music students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $55,422. Typical student debt for the program is $22,803.
More information about a degree in music from Auburn University
Furman University came in at #14 for music this year. Set in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. Furman University awarded about 13 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Furman University earn a median of $36,520 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,830.
Read more about the music program at Furman University
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania placed #15 among the best music schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 68 music degrees in the most recent data year.
Get the full music details for West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
James Madison University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 74 music students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Music graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $36,106 early in their careers. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $20,968 in student loans.
See the full music program report for James Madison University
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates 84% of students within six years. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 97 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $36,818 in their early career. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Read more about the music program at Rutgers University New Brunswick
Princeton University came in at #18 for music this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Princeton University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 22 music degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from Princeton University earn around $67,532 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for Princeton University
New York University landed the #19 spot for music this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 294 music degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $28,287 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the music program at New York University
University Of California San Diego earned the #20 position for music this year. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California San Diego awarded about 27 music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $21,592 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,938.
Get the full music details for University Of California San Diego
University Of California Irvine ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. About 87% of students finish within six years. University Of California Irvine awarded about 25 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $50,958 in their early career. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans.
Get the full music details for University Of California Irvine
Wesleyan University earned the #22 position for music this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Middletown. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. Wesleyan University awarded about 20 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $39,764 in their early career. Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music from Wesleyan University
University Of Utah earned the #23 position for music this year. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 69 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Utah in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $42,548. University Of Utah graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
Get the full music details for University Of Utah
Illinois State University landed the #24 spot for music this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. About 53 music degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from Illinois State University earn around $35,863 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from Illinois State University
Gettysburg College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Located in the town of Gettysburg, Gettysburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 12 music students who graduated with this degree at Gettysburg College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Gettysburg College earn around $27,556 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,309 to complete this degree.
Get the full music details for Gettysburg College
Rest of the Top 50 Music Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s music ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 418 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
