Illinois · Music

Best Music institutions in Illinois, ranked by earnings

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…

Institutions
52
offering CIP 50.09
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
915
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$32,666
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
13
College Scorecard
Median net price
$20,472
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
56%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Musicians and Singers
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Northern Illinois University
Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,8306349%$29,000
2Eastern Illinois University
Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,1633247%$26,300
3Northwestern University
Evanston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$34,82314195%$14,799$18,166
4Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville Public · Bachelor's degree
$34,0791757%$23,500
5Illinois State University
Normal Public · Bachelor's degree
$32,8534765%$20,500
6Western Illinois University
Macomb Public · Bachelor's degree
$32,6665045%$30,000
7Bradley University
Peoria Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$28,137776%$21,768$27,000
8Wheaton College
Wheaton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$26,5402885%$23,461$24,556
9Elmhurst University
Elmhurst Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$21,759870%$20,794$28,125
10Millikin University
Decatur Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$21,1381455%$8,373$26,996

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Musicians and Singers (SOC 27-2042).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+1.1%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~19,400
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
typically No formal educational credential

Top skills

SpeakingActive ListeningMonitoringReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive Learning

What Musicians and Singers earn in Illinois

Jobs in Illinois
2,140
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
annual
Best-paying metro

Related careers

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$85,370 avg · 3,910 jobs
Musicians and Singers
avg · 2,140 jobs
Sound Engineering Technicians
$66,600 avg · 700 jobs
Music Directors and Composers
$62,740 avg · 540 jobs
Disc Jockeys, Except Radio

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Music programs in Illinois.

Which Music program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Northern Illinois University tops the list at $42,830. Compare it against completions, 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).

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