Best colleges for Music in Colorado
Ranked by graduate earnings
Colorado State University - Fort Collins, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus and University of Northern Colorado are the top bachelor's Music programs in Colorado by graduate earnings. Colorado State University - Fort Collins leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,277, College Scorecard. University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus and University of Northern Colorado award the most Music degrees in Colorado: 118, 90 and 84 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 19 Colorado colleges offer Music and award 487 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Music program falls under the field of Visual and Performing Arts, focusing on the study and performance of music. It caters to students interested in various aspects of music, including performance, theory, and history, allowing them…
Top 5 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,277 | 63 | 67% | — | $26,837 |
| 2 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,483 | 90 | 46% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | University of Northern Colorado Greeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,944 | 84 | 51% | — | $24,354 |
| 4 | University of Denver Denver Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $23,262 | 57 | 76% | $29,726 | $24,250 |
| 5 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $19,797 | 13 | 32% | — | $30,971 |
Colleges awarding the most Music degrees in Colorado
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder Public | 118 | Not reported |
| 2 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver Public | 90 | $29,483 |
| 3 | University of Northern Colorado Greeley Public | 84 | $26,944 |
| 4 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins Public | 63 | $38,277 |
| 5 | University of Denver Denver Private not-for-profit | 57 | $23,262 |
| 6 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver Public | 13 | $19,797 |
| 7 | Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction Public | 11 | Not reported |
| 8 | Colorado College Colorado Springs Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Springs Public | 8 | Not reported |
| 10 | Colorado Christian University Lakewood Private not-for-profit | 8 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 9 Colorado colleges offering Music
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo | Public | 6 |
| Fort Lewis College | Durango | Public | 4 |
| Red Rocks Community College | Lakewood | Public | 4 |
| Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design | Lakewood | Private for-profit | 3 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison | Public | 3 |
| Adams State University | Alamosa | Public | 2 |
| Pikes Peak State College | Colorado Springs | Public | 2 |
| Community College of Aurora | Aurora | Public | 1 |
| Regis University | Denver | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Musicians and Singers (SOC 27-2042).
Top skills
What Musicians and Singers earn in Colorado
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Music programs in Colorado.
Which Colorado colleges award the most Music degrees?+
University of Colorado Boulder (118 graduates a year), University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus (90 graduates a year) and University of Northern Colorado (84 graduates a year) award the most Music degrees in Colorado, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 19 Colorado colleges offer Music.
What is the best college for Music in Colorado?+
By graduate earnings, Colorado State University - Fort Collins leads among bachelor's Music programs in Colorado, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,277, College Scorecard. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus and University of Northern Colorado follow. By degrees awarded, University of Colorado Boulder is the largest, with 118 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Music program in Colorado has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Colorado State University - Fort Collins tops the list at $38,277. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
What is the focus of the Music program?+
The Music program falls under the field of Visual and Performing Arts, focusing on the study and performance of music. It caters to students interested in various aspects of music, including performance, theory, and history, allowing them…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Musicians and Singers?+
The national job outlook is about +1.1% growth with around 19,400 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A No formal educational credential is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card