2027 Best Music Schools in the New England Region
Music is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their music programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 25 schools to find the best for music students.
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Best Schools for Music in the New England Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall music education in the New England Region.
Top Schools in Music
Dartmouth College tops our 2027 ranking of the best music schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Hanover. About 96% of students finish within six years. Dartmouth College awarded about 16 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Dartmouth College generally make around $81,992. Students borrow a median of $16,989 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for Dartmouth College
Students looking for a strong music program will find one at Brown University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Brown University graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 music students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Brown University earn around $62,820 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,025.
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Students looking for a strong music program will find one at Harvard University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 98% of students finish within six years. About 26 music degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from Harvard University earn around $95,207 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
See the full music program report for Harvard University
A rank of #4 makes Wesleyan University one of the top schools for music. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Middletown. Wesleyan University graduates 93% of students within six years. 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.
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University Of Connecticut came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. University Of Connecticut awarded about 42 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $31,336 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in music from University Of Connecticut
University Of Rhode Island placed #6 among the best music schools. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. University Of Rhode Island awarded about 22 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $52,821 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete this degree.
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Boston University earned the #7 position for music this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. About 159 music degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Music graduates of Boston University earn a median of $30,982 early in their careers. Boston University graduates carry a median of $26,957 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music from Boston University
University Of Vermont earned the #8 position for music this year. University Of Vermont is a large public school located in the city of Burlington. University Of Vermont graduates 79% of students within six years. About 30 music degrees were awarded at University Of Vermont in the most recent year. Music graduates of University Of Vermont earn a median of $44,588 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,607 to complete this degree.
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University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earned the #9 position for music this year. This large public university is located in the town of Durham. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus graduates 76% of students within six years. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus awarded about 35 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earn a median of $30,716 early in their careers. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the music program at University Of New Hampshire Main Campus
Yale University landed the #10 spot for music this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 138 music students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Yale University earn around $21,250 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
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University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Lowell. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 41 music degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Lowell in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn around $35,311 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in music from University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Northeastern University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 52 music degrees were awarded at Northeastern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $21,978. Students borrow a median of $26,568 to complete this degree.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 75 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $30,429. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Longy School Of Music Of Bard College landed the #14 spot for music this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Longy School Of Music Of Bard College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 104 music degrees were awarded at Longy School Of Music Of Bard College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Longy School Of Music Of Bard College generally make around $30,660.
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University Of Massachusetts Boston ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. University Of Massachusetts Boston graduates 49% of students within six years. About 10 music degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Boston in the most recent year. Music graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $52,885 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,236.
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Clark University landed the #16 spot for music this year. Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 music degrees were awarded at Clark University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Clark University generally make around $43,257. Typical student debt for the program is $26,153.
See the full music program report for Clark University
Berklee College Of Music ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Located in the city of Boston, Berklee College Of Music is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 908 music degrees were awarded at Berklee College Of Music in the most recent year. Music graduates of Berklee College Of Music earn a median of $21,670 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,979 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for Berklee College Of Music
University Of New Haven earned the #18 position for music this year. Located in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of New Haven in the most recent data year. Music graduates of University Of New Haven earn a median of $22,171 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in music from University Of New Haven
University Of Hartford earned the #19 position for music this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of West Hartford. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Hartford awarded about 93 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Hartford generally make around $26,775. University Of Hartford graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the music program at University Of Hartford
Keene State College came in at #20 for music this year. Keene State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Keene. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 music students who graduated with this degree at Keene State College in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Keene State College earn a median of $41,049 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,185.
Read more about the music program at Keene State College
University Of Southern Maine placed #21 among the best music schools. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public institution. University Of Southern Maine graduates 40% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern Maine in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $47,003 in their early career. University Of Southern Maine graduates carry a median of $23,593 in student loans.
Read more about the music program at University Of Southern Maine
Western Connecticut State University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Located in the city of Danbury, Western Connecticut State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 16 music students who graduated with this degree at Western Connecticut State University in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Western Connecticut State University earn a median of $21,659 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,025.
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Westfield State University placed #23 among the best music schools. Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Westfield. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 music students who graduated with this degree at Westfield State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Westfield State University earn around $46,645 in the first couple years of their career. Westfield State University graduates carry a median of $25,910 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music from Westfield State University
Bennington College came in at #24 for music this year. Located in the town of Bennington, Bennington College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. There were roughly 16 music students who graduated with this degree at Bennington College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $29,031 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,815 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from Bennington College
The New England Conservatory Of Music earned the #25 position for music this year. The New England Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. The New England Conservatory Of Music awarded about 286 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from The New England Conservatory Of Music generally make around $24,499. Students borrow a median of $26,991 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from The New England Conservatory Of Music
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 25 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.