Best colleges for Music in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Boston University and Northeastern University are the top bachelor's Music programs in Massachusetts by graduate earnings. University of Massachusetts-Lowell leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,311, College Scorecard. Berklee College of Music, The New England Conservatory of Music and Boston University award the most Music degrees in Massachusetts: 908, 286 and 159 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 33 Massachusetts colleges offer Music and award 1,795 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 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,311 | 41 | 65% | — | $27,000 |
| 2 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $23,934 | 159 | 89% | $21,956 | $26,957 |
| 3 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $21,978 | 52 | 91% | $18,925 | $26,568 |
| 4 | Berklee College of Music Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $18,177 | 908 | 67% | $46,197 | $24,979 |
Colleges awarding the most Music degrees in Massachusetts
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 | Berklee College of Music Boston Private not-for-profit | 908 | $18,177 |
| 2 | The New England Conservatory of Music Boston Private not-for-profit | 286 | Not reported |
| 3 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit | 159 | $23,934 |
| 4 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public | 75 | Not reported |
| 5 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit | 52 | $21,978 |
| 6 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell Public | 41 | $35,311 |
| 7 | Harvard University Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 26 | Not reported |
| 8 | Brandeis University Waltham Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
| 9 | Westfield State University Westfield Public | 12 | Not reported |
| 10 | Clark University Worcester Private not-for-profit | 10 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 23 Massachusetts colleges offering Music
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longy School of Music of Bard College (Graduate only) | Cambridge | Private not-for-profit | 104 |
| Holyoke Community College | Holyoke | Public | 12 |
| University of Massachusetts-Boston | Boston | Public | 10 |
| Williams College | Williamstown | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Tufts University | Medford | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Gordon College | Wenham | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Hampshire College | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| College of the Holy Cross | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater | Public | 5 |
| Bunker Hill Community College | Boston | Public | 5 |
| Salem State University | Salem | Public | 5 |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | Norton | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Merrimack College | North Andover | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Mount Holyoke College | South Hadley | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Smith College | Northampton | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Berkshire Community College | Pittsfield | Public | 3 |
| Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester | Public | 3 |
| Wellesley College | Wellesley | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Assumption University | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Boston College | Chestnut Hill | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | North Dartmouth | Public | 2 |
| Amherst College | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Emerson College | Boston | 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 Massachusetts
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Music programs in Massachusetts.
Which Massachusetts colleges award the most Music degrees?+
Berklee College of Music (908 graduates a year), The New England Conservatory of Music (286 graduates a year) and Boston University (159 graduates a year) award the most Music degrees in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 33 Massachusetts colleges offer Music.
What is the best college for Music in Massachusetts?+
By graduate earnings, University of Massachusetts-Lowell leads among bachelor's Music programs in Massachusetts, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,311, College Scorecard. Boston University and Northeastern University follow. By degrees awarded, Berklee College of Music is the largest, with 908 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Music program in Massachusetts has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Massachusetts-Lowell tops the list at $35,311. 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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