by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 81 U.S. colleges awarded 651 degrees and certificates in Voice Performance. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 51% of graduates. College Factual ranks 18 schools in its 2027 Best Voice Performance 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.
Studying Voice Performance involves the study of Voice And Opera. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Master The Human Voice And Performing Art As Solo And/or Ensemble Performers In Concert, Choir, Opera, Or Other Forms Of Singing. Includes Instruction In Voice Pedagogy, Diction, Vocal Physiology And Exercise, Expressive Movement, Repertoire, Recital, And Personal Style Development.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., voice performance draws strong interest, with 651 degrees awarded annually. 81 colleges award voice performance degrees, an average of 8 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 74.
By level, the 651 awards include 3 certificates, 1 associate degrees, 293 bachelor’s degrees, 331 master’s degrees and 23 doctorates.
Women earned 68% of voice performance degrees and certificates in the latest year (442 of 651). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (294) and Hispanic or Latino (80), and international students earned 152.
College Factual ranks 18 schools in its 2027 Best Voice Performance Schools ranking, including 8 for bachelor’s degrees, 11 for master’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks voice performance schools within 9 states. In all, 81 colleges offer voice performance programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Voice Performance Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common voice performance credential is the master’s degree: 331 of the 651 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to voice performance call most for Speaking, Instructing and Active Listening, 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:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a voice performance degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 3 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 293 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 331 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 23 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to voice performance, at 46.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 46.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 29.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.4% |
| Some college courses | 1.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Voice Performance, with an average median salary of $70,156; the strongest outlook belongs to Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 9.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Visual Arts Instructor, Art Professor, Associate Professor and Dramatic Art Teacher.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to voice performance, at 1,074,154.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Music Directors and Composers | 180,947 | 6.4% |
| Musicians and Singers | 44,568 | 7.2% |
Voice Performance 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 voice performance is Musicians and Singers, with a median salary of $96,571.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Musicians and Singers | $96,571 |
| Music Directors and Composers | $66,915 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
Voice Performance has 16 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 25,618 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 |
| Jazz/Jazz Studies | 598 |
| Stringed Instruments | 585 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 536 |
| Music Pedagogy | 402 |
| Musicology and Ethnomusicology | 168 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
