2027 Best Music Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Music degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 67 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for music students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Music in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall music education in the Middle Atlantic Region.
Top Schools in Music
No school ranked higher than The College Of New Jersey this year for music. The College Of New Jersey is a large public school located in the suburb of Ewing. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 music students who graduated with this degree at The College Of New Jersey in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $56,617 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,429 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from The College Of New Jersey
A rank of #2 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the top schools for music. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 103 music degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $52,541. Students borrow a median of $21,614 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes West Chester University Of Pennsylvania one of the top schools for music. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 68 music students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
Read more about the music program at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
Students looking for a strong music program will find one at Rutgers University New Brunswick, which ranked #4. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 97 music degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Music graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $36,818 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full music program report for Rutgers University New Brunswick
A rank of #5 makes Princeton University one of the top schools for music. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 98% of students finish within six years. About 22 music degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
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New York University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. 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.
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Gettysburg College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Gettysburg. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 music students who graduated with this degree at Gettysburg College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Gettysburg College generally make around $27,556. Typical student debt for the program is $26,309.
Read more about the music program at Gettysburg College
University Of Delaware earned the #8 position for music this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Newark. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Delaware awarded about 44 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $38,417 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,334.
See the full music program report for University Of Delaware
Rowan University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Set in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 86 music degrees were awarded at Rowan University in the most recent year. Music graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $32,781 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music program at Rowan University
County College Of Morris ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Located in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public university. County College Of Morris awarded about 14 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of County College Of Morris earn a median of $30,966 early in their careers. County College Of Morris graduates carry a median of $9,420 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music from County College Of Morris
Messiah College placed #11 among the best music schools. Set in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Messiah College graduates 75% of students within six years. About 44 music degrees were awarded at Messiah College in the most recent year. Music graduates of Messiah College earn a median of $66,109 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,965 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for Messiah College
Johns Hopkins University landed the #12 spot for music this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 254 music degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Music graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $23,620 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Skidmore College earned the #13 position for music this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Skidmore College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 10 music degrees were awarded at Skidmore College in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from Skidmore College earn around $34,440 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,274.
See the full music program report for Skidmore College
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #14 for music this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 music students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $32,924 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
Montclair State University landed the #15 spot for music this year. Set in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public institution. Montclair State University graduates 65% of students within six years. Montclair State University awarded about 99 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Montclair State University generally make around $41,164. Montclair State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Bard College earned the #16 position for music this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Annandale-On-Hudson. About 68% of students finish within six years. Bard College awarded about 58 music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Bard College earn around $30,660 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,402.
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Cuny Brooklyn College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Cuny Brooklyn College graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 music students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Brooklyn College in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $16,996 early in their careers. Cuny Brooklyn College graduates carry a median of $13,303 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music from Cuny Brooklyn College
Syracuse University placed #18 among the best music schools. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 27 music degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from Syracuse University earn around $18,574 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,130.
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Towson University earned the #19 position for music this year. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 34 music students who graduated with this degree at Towson University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Towson University earn around $19,618 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,102.
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Ithaca College earned the #20 position for music this year. Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 45 music degrees were awarded at Ithaca College in the most recent year. Music graduates of Ithaca College earn a median of $23,119 early in their careers. Ithaca College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music from Ithaca College
Temple University came in at #21 for music this year. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Temple University graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 150 music students who graduated with this degree at Temple University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $20,667 in their early career. Temple University graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
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Cuny Hunter College earned the #22 position for music this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 music students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Cuny Hunter College earn around $33,384 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny Hunter College graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music from Cuny Hunter College
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #23 for music this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 99 music students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn around $23,278 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,431 to complete this degree.
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Lebanon Valley College placed #24 among the best music schools. Located in the suburb of Annville, Lebanon Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 music degrees were awarded at Lebanon Valley College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Lebanon Valley College generally make around $49,383. Lebanon Valley College graduates carry a median of $26,846 in student loans.
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Muhlenberg College landed the #25 spot for music this year. Set in the city of Allentown, Muhlenberg College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Muhlenberg College graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 music students who graduated with this degree at Muhlenberg College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Muhlenberg College earn around $35,641 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,259.
Get the full music details for Muhlenberg College
Rest of the Top 50 Music Schools
These schools also placed among the best for music this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 67 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.