2027 Best Music Schools in Tennessee
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.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best music schools.
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Best Schools for Music in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall music education in Tennessee.
Top Schools in Music
Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in music. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 49 music degrees 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.
Read more about the music program at Vanderbilt University
The University Of Tennessee came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. 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.
Get the full music details for The University Of Tennessee
A rank of #3 makes Tennessee Technological University one of the top schools for music. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 music degrees were awarded at Tennessee Technological University in the most recent year. Music graduates of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $44,635 early in their careers. Tennessee Technological University graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
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Middle Tennessee State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Murfreesboro. Middle Tennessee State University graduates 54% of students within six years. Middle Tennessee State University awarded about 158 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $27,586. Students borrow a median of $22,608 to complete this degree.
Get the full music details for Middle Tennessee State University
Belmont University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music, landing the #5 spot this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. About 70% of students finish within six years. Belmont University awarded about 164 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
Lipscomb University earned the #6 position for music this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 30 music degrees were awarded at Lipscomb University in the most recent year. Music graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $19,352 early in their careers. Lipscomb University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music from Lipscomb University
University Of Memphis placed #7 among the best music schools. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. University Of Memphis graduates 51% of students within six years. University Of Memphis awarded about 71 music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from University Of Memphis earn around $37,385 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Memphis graduates carry a median of $22,060 in student loans.
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The University Of Tennessee Martin landed the #8 spot for music this year. Located in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public university. The University Of Tennessee Martin graduates 52% of students within six years. About 12 music degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee Martin in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from The University Of Tennessee Martin earn around $40,400 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Tennessee Martin graduates carry a median of $23,770 in student loans.
Read more about the music program at The University Of Tennessee Martin
East Tennessee State University came in at #9 for music this year. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 30 music students who graduated with this degree at East Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $30,004 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
See the full music program report for East Tennessee State University
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga came in at #10 for music this year. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 24 music students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga in the most recent data year. Music graduates of The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn a median of $50,000 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,324.
See the full music program report for The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
Nashville State Community College earned the #11 position for music this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Nashville State Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 11 music students who graduated with this degree at Nashville State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $41,456 in their early career. Nashville State Community College graduates carry a median of $16,745 in student loans.
Get the full music details for Nashville State Community College
Austin Peay State University landed the #12 spot for music this year. Austin Peay State University is a large public school located in the city of Clarksville. Austin Peay State University graduates 39% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 music students who graduated with this degree at Austin Peay State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $39,008 in their early career. Austin Peay State University graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
Get the full music details for Austin Peay State University
Tennessee State University earned the #13 position for music this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. There were roughly 16 music students who graduated with this degree at Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Tennessee State University generally make around $23,868. Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $29,489 in student loans.
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. Lee University graduates 63% of students within six years. Lee University awarded about 25 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.
More information about a degree in music from Lee University
Visible Music College landed the #15 spot for music this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Memphis. The six-year graduation rate is 12%. There were roughly 23 music students who graduated with this degree at Visible Music College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Visible Music College generally make around $25,461. Students borrow a median of $16,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music program at Visible Music College
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 15 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.
