Music degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their music programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 352 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for music students pursuing a degree.
Leading the list is Dartmouth College, our #1 school for music. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Hanover. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 16 music students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $81,992 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,989.
See the full music program report for Dartmouth College
Northwestern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music, landing the #2 spot this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 81 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $34,823 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,166.
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Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music, ranking #3. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 49 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. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
See the full music program report for Vanderbilt University
A rank of #4 makes San Jose State University one of the top schools for music. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 42 music students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
See the full music program report for San Jose State University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 29 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $32,880. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
Read more about the music program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Brown University landed the #6 spot for music this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 music students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $62,820 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,025 to complete this degree.
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University Of Florida came in at #7 for music this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 40 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from University Of Florida earn around $22,559 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from University Of Florida
University Of Maryland College Park placed #8 among the best music schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 43 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $52,541. Typical student debt for the program is $21,614.
More information about a degree in music from University Of Maryland College Park
The College Of New Jersey landed the #9 spot for music this year. Set in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 music students who graduated with this degree at The College Of New Jersey in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from The College Of New Jersey generally make around $56,617. Students borrow a median of $24,429 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music program at The College Of New Jersey
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania came in at #10 for music this year. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 music students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
See the full music program report for West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #11 for music this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $69,126 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,131.
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Auburn University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 music students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Auburn University earn around $55,422 in the first couple years of their career. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $22,803 in student loans.
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Furman University came in at #13 for music this year. Located in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. There were roughly 13 music students who graduated with this degree at Furman University in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Furman University earn a median of $36,520 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,830 to complete this degree.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates 84% of students within six years. About 49 music degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn around $36,707 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Read more about the music program at Rutgers University New Brunswick
Illinois State University came in at #15 for music this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 33 music degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $32,853. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from Illinois State University
James Madison University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 66 music degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $36,106. Typical student debt for the program is $20,968.
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University Of Utah placed #17 among the best music schools. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. University Of Utah graduates 65% of students within six years. About 38 music degrees were awarded at University Of Utah in the most recent year. Music graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $42,548 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
More information about a degree in music from University Of Utah
The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 81 music degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Music graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $39,564 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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Rice University earned the #19 position for music this year. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 music students who graduated with this degree at Rice University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Rice University earn around $30,454 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
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University Of California Irvine ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best music schools. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. About 87% of students finish within six years. About 23 music degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $50,958 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,539.
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Oklahoma State University Main Campus earned the #21 position for music this year. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Oklahoma State University Main Campus awarded about 31 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $50,993. Students borrow a median of $22,337 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music program at Oklahoma State University Main Campus
University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned the #22 position for music this year. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 22 music degrees were awarded at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn around $38,029 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music program at University Of Mississippi Main Campus
University Of Houston landed the #23 spot for music this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Houston. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 47 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from University Of Houston earn around $52,799 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
See the full music program report for University Of Houston
University Of Delaware came in at #24 for music this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Newark. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 15 music degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $38,417. Students borrow a median of $25,334 to complete this degree.
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Gettysburg College came in at #25 for music this year. Set in the town of Gettysburg, Gettysburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 12 music degrees were awarded at Gettysburg College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Gettysburg College generally make around $27,556. Students borrow a median of $26,309 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from Gettysburg College
Rest of the Top 50 Music Schools
These schools also placed among the best for music this year:
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 · 352 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).