Best colleges for Music in Kentucky
Ranked by graduate earnings
Morehead State University, Eastern Kentucky University and University of Louisville are the top bachelor's Music programs in Kentucky by graduate earnings. Morehead State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,088, College Scorecard. University of Louisville, University of Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky University award the most Music degrees in Kentucky: 54, 52 and 27 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 15 Kentucky colleges offer Music and award 236 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 7 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 | Morehead State University Morehead Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,088 | 20 | 52% | — | $25,000 |
| 2 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,106 | 27 | 50% | — | $20,379 |
| 3 | University of Louisville Louisville Public · Bachelor's degree | $20,125 | 54 | 61% | — | $20,745 |
| 4 | University of Kentucky Lexington Public · Bachelor's degree | $17,040 | 52 | 71% | — | $23,000 |
| 5 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,766 | 17 | 56% | — | $24,317 |
| 6 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,428 | 7 | 52% | — | $27,357 |
| 7 | Murray State University Murray Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,098 | 16 | 61% | — | $26,731 |
Colleges awarding the most Music degrees in Kentucky
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 Louisville Louisville Public | 54 | $20,125 |
| 2 | University of Kentucky Lexington Public | 52 | $17,040 |
| 3 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Public | 27 | $30,106 |
| 4 | Morehead State University Morehead Public | 20 | $31,088 |
| 5 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Public | 17 | $34,766 |
| 6 | Murray State University Murray Public | 16 | $34,098 |
| 7 | Bellarmine University Louisville Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
| 8 | Campbellsville University Campbellsville Private not-for-profit | 10 | Not reported |
| 9 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Public | 7 | $34,428 |
| 10 | Asbury University Wilmore Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 5 Kentucky colleges offering Music
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transylvania University | Lexington | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| University of the Cumberlands | Williamsburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Kentucky State University | Frankfort | Public | 2 |
| Simmons College of Kentucky | Louisville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Berea College | Berea | 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 Kentucky
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Music programs in Kentucky.
Which Kentucky colleges award the most Music degrees?+
University of Louisville (54 graduates a year), University of Kentucky (52 graduates a year) and Eastern Kentucky University (27 graduates a year) award the most Music degrees in Kentucky, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 15 Kentucky colleges offer Music.
What is the best college for Music in Kentucky?+
By graduate earnings, Morehead State University leads among bachelor's Music programs in Kentucky, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,088, College Scorecard. Eastern Kentucky University and University of Louisville follow. By degrees awarded, University of Louisville is the largest, with 54 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Music program in Kentucky has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Morehead State University tops the list at $31,088. 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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