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2027 Best Music Schools in North Carolina

8 Colleges in the United States
339 Music Degrees Awarded
$27,931 Avg Early-Career Salary

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.

For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for music students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Music in North Carolina

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

1

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in music. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $32,880 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000. Read more about the music program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Charlotte one of the top schools for music. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates 69% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte awarded about 22 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $38,831 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,858 to complete this degree. Read more about the music program at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte

3

Appalachian State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music, ranking #3. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 music students who graduated with this degree at Appalachian State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Appalachian State University earn around $23,304 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. Read more about the music program at Appalachian State University

4

Western Carolina University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music, ranking #4. This large public university is located in the town of Cullowhee. About 60% of students finish within six years. Western Carolina University awarded about 34 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $26,135 in their early career. Western Carolina University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in music from Western Carolina University

5

University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts is a small public school located in the city of Winston Salem. About 78% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts awarded about 53 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts earn a median of $19,939 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,143. Get the full music details for University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts

6

East Carolina University landed the #6 spot for music this year. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. East Carolina University graduates 63% of students within six years. About 41 music degrees were awarded at East Carolina University in the most recent year. Music graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $26,222 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Get the full music details for East Carolina University

7

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earned the #7 position for music this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public institution. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates 56% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro awarded about 109 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $24,315 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. See the full music program report for University Of North Carolina At Greensboro

8

University Of North Carolina At Asheville earned the #8 position for music this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Asheville. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 29 music degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Asheville in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $31,821 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,108. Read more about the music program at University Of North Carolina At Asheville

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 8 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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