2026 Best Music Schools in Tennessee
Music programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 38 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best music schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Music in Tennessee
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
Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in music. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 45 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. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
Read more about the music program at Vanderbilt University
Tennessee Technological University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. Tennessee Technological University graduates 58% of students within six years. About 20 music degrees were awarded at Tennessee Technological University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $44,635 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
Read more about the music program at Tennessee Technological University
The University Of Tennessee is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 74 music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $33,043 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,453.
Read more about the music program at The University Of Tennessee
Students looking for a strong music program will find one at Middle Tennessee State University, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Murfreesboro. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Middle Tennessee State University awarded about 192 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $27,586. Middle Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $22,608 in student loans.
Get the full music details for Middle Tennessee State University
Students looking for a strong music program will find one at Belmont University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. Belmont University awarded about 131 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $27,517 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,988.
Get the full music details for Belmont University
The University Of Tennessee Martin ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Martin. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 18 music degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee Martin in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $40,400. Students borrow a median of $23,770 to complete this degree.
Get the full music details for The University Of Tennessee Martin
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earned the #7 position for music this year. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public school located in the city of Chattanooga. About 50% of students finish within six years. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga awarded about 19 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $50,000. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates carry a median of $23,324 in student loans.
Get the full music details for The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
Lipscomb University placed #8 among the best music schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 music students who graduated with this degree at Lipscomb University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Lipscomb University earn around $19,352 in the first couple years of their career. Lipscomb University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
Get the full music details for Lipscomb University
University Of Memphis ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. University Of Memphis graduates 51% of students within six years. There were roughly 74 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Memphis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $37,385 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,060.
Get the full music details for University Of Memphis
East Tennessee State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 23 music degrees were awarded at East Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Music graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $30,004 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for East Tennessee State University
Austin Peay State University placed #11 among the best music schools. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. About 21 music degrees were awarded at Austin Peay State University in the most recent year. Music graduates of Austin Peay State University earn a median of $39,008 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full music details for Austin Peay State University
Volunteer State Community College earned the #12 position for music this year. Set in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Volunteer State Community College awarded about 23 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Volunteer State Community College earn a median of $40,137 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,462 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for Volunteer State Community College
Tennessee State University earned the #13 position for music this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Nashville. Tennessee State University graduates 35% of students within six years. About 11 music degrees were awarded at Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from Tennessee State University earn around $23,868 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,489 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from Tennessee State University
Lee University placed #14 among the best music schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lee University awarded about 26 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Lee University earn a median of $38,249 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $28,000.
Get the full music details for Lee University
Visible Music College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. Located in the city of Memphis, Visible Music College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 12%. About 30 music degrees were awarded at Visible Music College in the most recent year. Music graduates of Visible Music College earn a median of $25,461 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,250 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for Visible Music College
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 38 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.
