by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 29 U.S. colleges awarded 585 degrees and certificates in Stringed Instruments. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 62% of graduates. College Factual ranks 14 schools in its 2027 Best Stringed Instruments Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $29,221 one year after completing, rising to $45,008 after four years.
A major in Stringed Instruments explores Stringed Instruments. A Program That Prepares Individual To Master A Stringed Instrument And Performing Arts As Solo, Ensemble And/or Accompanist Performers. Includes Instruction In Playing And Personal Style Development. Examples: [Violin], [Viola], [Double Bass], [Guitar], [Banjo], [Harp].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, stringed instruments draws strong interest, with 585 degrees awarded annually. 29 colleges award stringed instruments degrees, an average of 20 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 98.
By level, the 585 awards include 1 certificates, 206 bachelor’s degrees, 365 master’s degrees and 13 doctorates.
Women earned 53% of stringed instruments degrees and certificates in the latest year (311 of 585). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (173) and Asian (104), and international students earned 211.
College Factual ranks 14 schools in its 2027 Best Stringed Instruments Schools ranking, including 7 for bachelor’s degrees, 10 for master’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks stringed instruments schools within 7 states. In all, 29 colleges offer stringed instruments programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Stringed Instruments Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common stringed instruments credential is the master’s degree: 365 of the 585 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to stringed instruments call most for Speaking, Instructing and Learning Strategies, and for knowledge of Fine Arts, Education and Training and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a stringed instruments degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 206 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 365 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 13 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to stringed instruments, at 49.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 49.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 30.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Stringed Instruments, with an average median salary of $71,777; the strongest outlook belongs to Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 9.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Open Rank Professor, Dance Instructor, Adjunct Graphic Design Instructor and Elementary Art Instructor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to stringed instruments, at 1,074,154.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Musicians and Singers | 44,568 | 7.2% |
Stringed Instruments graduates earn a median $29,221 one year after completing their program, $45,008 after four years and $40,994 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $29,221 |
| 4 years | $45,008 |
| 5 years | $40,994 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to stringed instruments is Musicians and Singers, with a median salary of $96,571.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Musicians and Singers | $96,571 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
Stringed Instruments has 16 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 25,684 degrees a year; the largest are Music, General (10,882), Music Performance, General (7,138) and Music Technology (2,097). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music, General | 10,882 |
| Music Performance, General | 7,138 |
| Music Technology | 2,097 |
| Music Theory and Composition | 1,337 |
| Music, Other | 1,235 |
| Voice and Opera | 651 |
| Jazz/Jazz Studies | 598 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 536 |
| Music Pedagogy | 402 |
| Musicology and Ethnomusicology | 168 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
