by our College Data Analytics TeamMusic is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 31 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best music schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall music education in New York.
Leading the list is New York University, our #1 school for music. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. New York University awarded about 294 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of New York University earn a median of $28,287 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. See the full music program report for New York University
Students looking for a strong music program will find one at Skidmore College, which ranked #2. Skidmore College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 music degrees were awarded at Skidmore College in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $34,440 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,274. Get the full music details for Skidmore College
Columbia University In The City Of New York is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. 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. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $32,924. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. More information about a degree in music from Columbia University In The City Of New York
A rank of #4 makes Bard College one of the top schools for music. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Annandale-On-Hudson. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 58 music students who graduated with this degree at Bard College 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. More information about a degree in music from Bard College
Cuny Brooklyn College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 42 music students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Brooklyn College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $16,996. Cuny Brooklyn College graduates carry a median of $13,303 in student loans. See the full music program report for Cuny Brooklyn College
Syracuse University came in at #6 for music this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Syracuse University awarded about 27 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $18,574 in their early career. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $26,130 in student loans. More information about a degree in music from Syracuse University
Ithaca College came in at #7 for music this year. Located in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Ithaca College graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 45 music students who graduated with this degree at Ithaca College in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Ithaca College earn a median of $23,119 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music from Ithaca College
Cuny Hunter College earned the #8 position for music this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 music students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $33,384. Cuny Hunter College graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. Read more about the music program at Cuny Hunter College
Stony Brook University placed #9 among the best music schools. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stony Brook University awarded about 59 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $34,264 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete this degree. Read more about the music program at Stony Brook University
Suffolk County Community College placed #10 among the best music schools. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. Suffolk County Community College awarded about 12 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $35,667 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,246 to complete this degree. Read more about the music program at Suffolk County Community College
The New School ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 247 music degrees were awarded at The New School in the most recent year. Music graduates of The New School earn a median of $15,510 early in their careers. The New School graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Read more about the music program at The New School
Suny At Fredonia came in at #12 for music this year. Set in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 41 music degrees were awarded at Suny At Fredonia in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from Suny At Fredonia earn around $35,849 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full music details for Suny At Fredonia
Cuny Graduate School And University Center landed the #13 spot for music this year. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public school located in the city of New York. About 20 music degrees were awarded at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Cuny Graduate School And University Center generally make around $72,222. Typical student debt for the program is $17,921. Read more about the music program at Cuny Graduate School And University Center
University Of Rochester landed the #14 spot for music this year. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 228 music degrees were awarded at University Of Rochester in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Rochester generally make around $27,409. Typical student debt for the program is $26,769. More information about a degree in music from University Of Rochester
Long Island University C W Post Campus ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Set in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. Long Island University C W Post Campus awarded about 41 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Long Island University C W Post Campus generally make around $61,547. Students borrow a median of $25,211 to complete this degree. Read more about the music program at Long Island University C W Post Campus
Cuny Laguardia Community College earned the #16 position for music this year. Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public school located in the city of Long Island City. Cuny Laguardia Community College awarded about 10 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $31,437 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,858. Read more about the music program at Cuny Laguardia Community College
Houghton College placed #17 among the best music schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Houghton. Houghton College graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 music students who graduated with this degree at Houghton College in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Houghton College earn a median of $26,934 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,725 to complete this degree. Read more about the music program at Houghton College
Mercy College earned the #18 position for music this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. Mercy College awarded about 11 music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Mercy College earn around $61,432 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete this degree. See the full music program report for Mercy College
Cuny City College came in at #19 for music this year. This large public university is located in the city of New York. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 music students who graduated with this degree at Cuny City College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $19,145 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the music program at Cuny City College
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College placed #20 among the best music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. There were roughly 27 music students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College generally make around $30,111. Students borrow a median of $8,794 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music from Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College
Nazareth College came in at #21 for music this year. Nazareth College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. About 73% of students finish within six years. About 14 music degrees were awarded at Nazareth College in the most recent year. Music graduates of Nazareth College earn a median of $44,626 early in their careers. Nazareth College graduates carry a median of $26,185 in student loans. Read more about the music program at Nazareth College
Suny At Purchase College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 72 music students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Purchase College in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Suny At Purchase College earn a median of $22,569 early in their careers. Suny At Purchase College graduates carry a median of $22,179 in student loans. See the full music program report for Suny At Purchase College
Cuny Queens College landed the #23 spot for music this year. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 43 music degrees were awarded at Cuny Queens College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $27,902. Students borrow a median of $12,157 to complete this degree. Read more about the music program at Cuny Queens College
State University Of New York At New Paltz placed #24 among the best music schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of New Paltz. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 20 music students who graduated with this degree at State University Of New York At New Paltz in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $17,406 in their early career. State University Of New York At New Paltz graduates carry a median of $21,530 in student loans. See the full music program report for State University Of New York At New Paltz
Suny College At Oswego came in at #25 for music this year. Set in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public institution. Suny College At Oswego graduates 60% of students within six years. About 17 music degrees were awarded at Suny College At Oswego in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $41,899 in their early career. Suny College At Oswego graduates carry a median of $25,163 in student loans. See the full music program report for Suny College At Oswego
These schools also placed among the best for music this year:
This list is compiled 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 · 31 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.