2027 Best Music Schools in Massachusetts
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 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 11 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 Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall music education in Massachusetts.
Top Schools in Music
No school ranked higher than Harvard University this year for music. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 music degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from Harvard University
Boston University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music, ranking #2. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 159 music students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Boston University earn a median of $30,982 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,957 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of Massachusetts Lowell one of the top schools for music. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. University Of Massachusetts Lowell graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 41 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Lowell in the most recent data year. Music graduates of University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn a median of $35,311 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from University Of Massachusetts Lowell
A rank of #4 makes Northeastern University one of the top schools for music. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northeastern University graduates 90% of students within six years. About 52 music degrees were awarded at Northeastern University in the most recent year. Music graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $21,978 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,568 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Massachusetts Amherst one of the top schools for music. This very large public university is located in the city of Amherst. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 75 music degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $30,429. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Longy School Of Music Of Bard College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Longy School Of Music Of Bard College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Longy School Of Music Of Bard College awarded about 104 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $30,660 in their early career.
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University Of Massachusetts Boston landed the #7 spot for music this year. This large public university is located in the city of Boston. About 49% of students finish within six years. University Of Massachusetts Boston awarded about 10 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $52,885 in their early career. University Of Massachusetts Boston graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans.
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Clark University earned the #8 position for music this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. Clark University awarded about 10 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Clark University earn a median of $43,257 early in their careers. Clark University graduates carry a median of $26,153 in student loans.
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Berklee College Of Music ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Set in the city of Boston, Berklee College Of Music is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 908 music degrees were awarded at Berklee College Of Music in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $21,670 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,979.
More information about a degree in music from Berklee College Of Music
Westfield State University came in at #10 for music this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Westfield. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Westfield State University awarded about 12 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Westfield State University generally make around $46,645. Students borrow a median of $25,910 to complete this degree.
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The New England Conservatory Of Music came in at #11 for music this year. Set in the city of Boston, The New England Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 73% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 286 music students who graduated with this degree at The New England Conservatory Of Music in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $24,499 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,991 to complete this degree.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 11 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.