2027 Best Music Schools in Illinois
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 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best music schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Music in Illinois
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.
Top Schools in Music
Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in music. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 161 music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Northwestern University earn around $28,057 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,166.
More information about a degree in music from Northwestern University
Illinois State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Illinois State University awarded about 53 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $35,863 in their early career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music from Illinois State University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 121 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $25,536 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,625 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Eastern Illinois University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music, ranking #4. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Eastern Illinois University awarded about 36 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $37,163 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,300 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from Eastern Illinois University
Wheaton College Illinois is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music, landing the #5 spot this year. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 music degrees were awarded at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from Wheaton College Illinois earn around $26,540 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,556 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music program at Wheaton College Illinois
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates 55% of students within six years. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 22 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $34,079. Typical student debt for the program is $23,500.
See the full music program report for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Depaul University placed #7 among the best music schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 108 music students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $22,885 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,334 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for Depaul University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #8 among the best music schools. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 music students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $46,566 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,730 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Northern Illinois University earned the #9 position for music this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 68 music degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $41,632. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music from Northern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University landed the #10 spot for music this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 music students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $49,254 early in their careers. Northeastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $17,600 in student loans.
See the full music program report for Northeastern Illinois University
Lewis And Clark Community College earned the #11 position for music this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Godfrey. About 19 music degrees were awarded at Lewis And Clark Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $41,313 in their early career. Lewis And Clark Community College graduates carry a median of $9,602 in student loans.
See the full music program report for Lewis And Clark Community College
Columbia College Chicago ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Columbia College Chicago graduates 52% of students within six years. Columbia College Chicago awarded about 76 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $19,943 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from Columbia College Chicago
Western Illinois University earned the #13 position for music this year. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. About 45% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 music students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Western Illinois University earn around $32,666 in the first couple years of their career. Western Illinois University graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music from Western Illinois University
Roosevelt University earned the #14 position for music this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roosevelt University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 50 music students who graduated with this degree at Roosevelt University in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $29,974 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,750.
More information about a degree in music from Roosevelt University
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 14 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.