Best colleges for Music in Iowa
Ranked by graduate earnings
Luther College, University of Iowa and University of Northern Iowa are the top bachelor's Music programs in Iowa by graduate earnings. Luther College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,367, College Scorecard. University of Iowa, Luther College and University of Northern Iowa award the most Music degrees in Iowa: 97, 33 and 21 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Iowa colleges offer Music and award 214 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 4 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 | Luther College Decorah Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,367 | 33 | 71% | $22,827 | $27,000 |
| 2 | University of Iowa Iowa City Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,121 | 97 | 75% | — | $27,783 |
| 3 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,175 | 21 | 68% | — | $19,500 |
| 4 | Coe College Cedar Rapids Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $24,233 | 7 | 66% | $18,153 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Music degrees in Iowa
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 Iowa Iowa City Public | 97 | $39,121 |
| 2 | Luther College Decorah Private not-for-profit | 33 | $45,367 |
| 3 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public | 21 | $32,175 |
| 4 | Iowa State University Ames Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 5 | Coe College Cedar Rapids Private not-for-profit | 7 | $24,233 |
| 6 | Drake University Des Moines Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
| 7 | Southwestern Community College Creston Public | 6 | Not reported |
| 8 | Wartburg College Waverly Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
| 9 | Simpson College Indianola Private not-for-profit | 4 | Not reported |
| 10 | Buena Vista University Storm Lake Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 10 Iowa colleges offering Music
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell College | Mount Vernon | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Dordt University | Sioux Center | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Graceland University - Lamoni | Lamoni | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids | Public | 2 |
| Clarke University | Dubuque | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| University of Dubuque | Dubuque | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Loras College | Dubuque | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Morningside University | Sioux City | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Saint Ambrose University | Davenport | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| William Penn University | Oskaloosa | 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 Iowa
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Music programs in Iowa.
Which Iowa colleges award the most Music degrees?+
University of Iowa (97 graduates a year), Luther College (33 graduates a year) and University of Northern Iowa (21 graduates a year) award the most Music degrees in Iowa, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Iowa colleges offer Music.
What is the best college for Music in Iowa?+
By graduate earnings, Luther College leads among bachelor's Music programs in Iowa, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,367, College Scorecard. University of Iowa and University of Northern Iowa follow. By degrees awarded, University of Iowa is the largest, with 97 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Music program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Luther College tops the list at $45,367. 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.
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