2026 Best Music Schools in District of Columbia

Music degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their music programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for music students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Music Schools in District of Columbia

Best Schools for Music in District of Columbia

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall music education in District of Columbia.

Top Schools in Music

1

Catholic University Of America
Washington, DC

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

45 Music Degrees Awarded

$23,856 Median Starting Salary

Catholic University Of America tops our 2026 ranking of the best music schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 45 music degrees were awarded at Catholic University Of America in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $23,856 in their early career. Catholic University Of America graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans. See the full music program report for Catholic University Of America

2

Howard University
Washington, DC

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

15 Music Degrees Awarded

$58,495 Median Starting Salary

Students looking for a strong music program will find one at Howard University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Washington, Howard University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. Howard University awarded about 15 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Howard University earn a median of $58,495 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,498. Get the full music details for Howard University

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 6 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.