2027 Best Music Schools in the Southwest Region
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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 46 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 the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall music education in the Southwest Region.
Top Schools in Music
No school ranked higher than University Of Houston this year for music. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 91 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $52,799. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full music details for University Of Houston
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 151 music students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $33,937 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Get the full music details for The University Of Texas At Austin
A rank of #3 makes Oklahoma State University Main Campus one of the top schools for music. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Oklahoma State University Main Campus graduates 68% of students within six years. About 47 music degrees were awarded at Oklahoma State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Music graduates of Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn a median of $50,993 early in their careers. Oklahoma State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,337 in student loans.
See the full music program report for Oklahoma State University Main Campus
A rank of #4 makes Rice University one of the top schools for music. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rice University awarded about 85 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $30,454. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for Rice University
A rank of #5 makes The University Of Texas Pan American one of the top schools for music. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 43 music students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas Pan American in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $56,373. Students borrow a median of $20,920 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for The University Of Texas Pan American
The University Of Texas At Arlington landed the #6 spot for music this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Arlington. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 54 music students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Arlington in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $37,020 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,911 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music program at The University Of Texas At Arlington
Southern Methodist University landed the #7 spot for music this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 74 music degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from Southern Methodist University earn around $26,308 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Methodist University graduates carry a median of $18,417 in student loans.
See the full music program report for Southern Methodist University
University Of North Texas landed the #8 spot for music this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. About 61% of students finish within six years. University Of North Texas awarded about 299 music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from University Of North Texas earn around $36,763 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,456 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from University Of North Texas
Texas State University San Marcos placed #9 among the best music schools. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 92 music degrees were awarded at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $39,318 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,241 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for Texas State University San Marcos
The University Of Texas At El Paso ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 51 music students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At El Paso in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from The University Of Texas At El Paso earn around $56,062 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Texas At El Paso graduates carry a median of $14,612 in student loans.
Get the full music details for The University Of Texas At El Paso
Texas Christian University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fort Worth. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 59 music students who graduated with this degree at Texas Christian University in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $60,035 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from Texas Christian University
The University Of Texas At San Antonio ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Antonio. About 53% of students finish within six years. The University Of Texas At San Antonio awarded about 52 music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn around $47,010 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Texas At San Antonio graduates carry a median of $24,570 in student loans.
See the full music program report for The University Of Texas At San Antonio
Arizona State University earned the #13 position for music this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. Arizona State University awarded about 164 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $26,653 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,504.
Read more about the music program at Arizona State University
Austin Community College District earned the #14 position for music this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. There were roughly 22 music students who graduated with this degree at Austin Community College District in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,519 to complete this degree.
Get the full music details for Austin Community College District
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earned the #15 position for music this year. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norman. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates 75% of students within six years. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus awarded about 64 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $17,665 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,639.
More information about a degree in music from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Texas Womans University landed the #16 spot for music this year. Texas Womans University is a large public school located in the city of Denton. Texas Womans University graduates 49% of students within six years. Texas Womans University awarded about 42 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $41,210 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,810.
Read more about the music program at Texas Womans University
Northern Arizona University placed #17 among the best music schools. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 33 music degrees were awarded at Northern Arizona University in the most recent year. Music graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $47,056 early in their careers. Northern Arizona University graduates carry a median of $21,645 in student loans.
Read more about the music program at Northern Arizona University
Mesa Community College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Set in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 17 music students who graduated with this degree at Mesa Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Mesa Community College earn around $54,730 in the first couple years of their career. Mesa Community College graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
Read more about the music program at Mesa Community College
Glendale Community College Glendale Az landed the #19 spot for music this year. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. About 15 music degrees were awarded at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $51,483 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,996.
More information about a degree in music from Glendale Community College Glendale Az
Stephen F Austin State University placed #20 among the best music schools. Located in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a large public university. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 93 music degrees were awarded at Stephen F Austin State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from Stephen F Austin State University earn around $48,405 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music program at Stephen F Austin State University
Sam Houston State University placed #21 among the best music schools. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 67 music degrees were awarded at Sam Houston State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $59,926 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,000.
See the full music program report for Sam Houston State University
Texas Tech University landed the #22 spot for music this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 102 music students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $39,571. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $27,816 in student loans.
Get the full music details for Texas Tech University
Baylor University placed #23 among the best music schools. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Baylor University awarded about 73 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $10,210 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for Baylor University
West Texas A And M University placed #24 among the best music schools. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public university. West Texas A And M University graduates 48% of students within six years. West Texas A And M University awarded about 30 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $50,881 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,750.
See the full music program report for West Texas A And M University
Tarleton State University earned the #25 position for music this year. Located in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public university. Tarleton State University graduates 48% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 music students who graduated with this degree at Tarleton State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Tarleton State University earn around $50,532 in the first couple years of their career. Tarleton State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music from Tarleton State University
Rest of the Top 46 Music Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong music education:
Narrow Music Schools by State
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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 · 46 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.
