2027 Best Music Schools in the Southeast Region
Music 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 99 schools to find the best for music students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Music in the Southeast Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the music degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Music
Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 school for music. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 49 music students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
Get the full music details for Vanderbilt University
Students looking for a strong music program will find one at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, which ranked #2. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 29 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $32,880 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
Get the full music details for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of Florida is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 74 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $22,559. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music program at University Of Florida
University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music, ranking #4. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 21 music degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,131 in student loans.
See the full music program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
Auburn University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music, ranking #5. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Auburn University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 music students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $55,422 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,803.
See the full music program report for Auburn University
Furman University came in at #6 for music this year. Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Greenville. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 13 music degrees were awarded at Furman University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from Furman University earn around $36,520 in the first couple years of their career. Furman University graduates carry a median of $20,830 in student loans.
Read more about the music program at Furman University
James Madison University came in at #7 for music this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. James Madison University awarded about 74 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $36,106. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $20,968 in student loans.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #8 for music this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 18 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $60,004. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the music program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #9 for music this year. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates 72% of students within six years. University Of Mississippi Main Campus awarded about 33 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn a median of $38,029 early in their careers. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates carry a median of $17,250 in student loans.
Read more about the music program at University Of Mississippi Main Campus
Tulane University Of Louisiana placed #10 among the best music schools. Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 music degrees were awarded at Tulane University Of Louisiana in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $53,507 in their early career. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates carry a median of $22,077 in student loans.
Read more about the music program at Tulane University Of Louisiana
The University Of Tennessee landed the #11 spot for music this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 81 music degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $33,043. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $23,453 in student loans.
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Tennessee Technological University came in at #12 for music this year. This large public university is located in the town of Cookeville. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Tennessee Technological University awarded about 21 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $44,635 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music program at Tennessee Technological University
George Mason University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 70 music students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Music graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $34,841 early in their careers. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $24,048 in student loans.
See the full music program report for George Mason University
Florida State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 198 music degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from Florida State University earn around $26,311 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,992.
Read more about the music program at Florida State University
Florida International University came in at #15 for music this year. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. Florida International University graduates 74% of students within six years. Florida International University awarded about 50 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $27,481. Students borrow a median of $14,882 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from Florida International University
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte landed the #16 spot for music this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Charlotte. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte awarded about 22 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $38,831 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates carry a median of $25,858 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College landed the #17 spot for music this year. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 91 music degrees were awarded at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $28,530 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,455 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
Valencia College landed the #18 spot for music this year. Set in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public institution. Valencia College awarded about 41 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $22,985 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,575.
Read more about the music program at Valencia College
University Of South Carolina Columbia landed the #19 spot for music this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 117 music degrees were awarded at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent year. Music graduates of University Of South Carolina Columbia earn a median of $38,397 early in their careers. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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University Of Central Florida landed the #20 spot for music this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Orlando. About 78% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 48 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from University Of Central Florida earn around $21,957 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,567 to complete this degree.
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Middle Tennessee State University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 158 music students who graduated with this degree at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Middle Tennessee State University earn around $27,586 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,608.
See the full music program report for Middle Tennessee State University
University Of Alabama At Birmingham placed #22 among the best music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Birmingham. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 14 music degrees were awarded at University Of Alabama At Birmingham in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham generally make around $55,413. Students borrow a median of $26,162 to complete this degree.
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University Of Georgia earned the #23 position for music this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Georgia awarded about 97 music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from University Of Georgia earn around $24,514 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,344 to complete this degree.
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University Of Miami came in at #24 for music this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Miami graduates 84% of students within six years. About 170 music degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $23,991 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,998 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music program at University Of Miami
Bellarmine University landed the #25 spot for music this year. Set in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 14 music degrees were awarded at Bellarmine University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from Bellarmine University earn around $46,024 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,766.
See the full music program report for Bellarmine University
Rest of the Top 50 Music Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s music ranking:
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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 · 99 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.