by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 16 U.S. colleges awarded 151 degrees and certificates in Woodwind Instruments. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 60% of graduates. College Factual ranks 6 schools in its 2027 Best Woodwind 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 Woodwind Instruments explores Woodwind Instruments. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Master A Woodwind Instrument And Performing Art As Solo, Ensemble, And/or Accompanist Performers. Includes Instruction In Playing And Personal Style Development. Examples: [Flute], [Oboe], [Clarinet], [Bassoon], [Saxophone].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, woodwind instruments draws strong interest, with 151 degrees awarded annually. 16 colleges award woodwind instruments degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 30.
By level, the 151 awards include 1 certificates, 53 bachelor’s degrees, 90 master’s degrees and 7 doctorates.
Women earned 54% of woodwind instruments degrees and certificates in the latest year (82 of 151). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (62) and Hispanic or Latino (14), and international students earned 48.
College Factual ranks 6 schools in its 2027 Best Woodwind Instruments Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks woodwind instruments schools within 4 states. In all, 16 colleges offer woodwind instruments programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Woodwind Instruments Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common woodwind instruments credential is the master’s degree: 90 of the 151 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to woodwind 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:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a woodwind instruments degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 53 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 90 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 7 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to woodwind 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 Woodwind 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 Studio Instructor, Singing Teacher, Theater Professor and Choral Teacher.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to woodwind 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% |
Woodwind 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 woodwind 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 |
Woodwind Instruments has 16 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 26,118 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 |
| Stringed Instruments | 585 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 536 |
| Music Pedagogy | 402 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
