Best colleges for Music in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
Michigan State University, Grand Valley State University and Wayne State University are the top bachelor's Music programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. Michigan State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,656, College Scorecard. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Michigan State University and Western Michigan University award the most Music degrees in Michigan: 218, 157 and 58 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 35 Michigan colleges offer Music and award 677 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 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,656 | 157 | 81% | — | $26,750 |
| 2 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,882 | 26 | 67% | — | $29,198 |
| 3 | Wayne State University Detroit Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,911 | 56 | 58% | — | $26,000 |
| 4 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,911 | 26 | 59% | — | $27,975 |
| 5 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,775 | 58 | 58% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public · Bachelor's degree | $22,272 | 218 | 93% | — | $19,397 |
| 7 | Grace Christian University Wyoming Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,256 | 1 | 51% | $14,254 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Music degrees in Michigan
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 Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public | 218 | $22,272 |
| 2 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public | 157 | $38,656 |
| 3 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public | 58 | $24,775 |
| 4 | Wayne State University Detroit Public | 56 | $32,911 |
| 5 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public | 26 | $24,911 |
| 6 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public | 26 | $34,882 |
| 7 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 8 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public | 15 | Not reported |
| 9 | Andrews University Berrien Springs Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
| 10 | Calvin University Grand Rapids Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 25 Michigan colleges offering Music
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids Community College | Grand Rapids | Public | 8 |
| Henry Ford College | Dearborn | Public | 6 |
| Macomb Community College | Warren | Public | 6 |
| Albion College | Albion | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Hillsdale College | Hillsdale | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Michigan Technological University | Houghton | Public | 5 |
| Adrian College | Adrian | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Mott Community College | Flint | Public | 4 |
| Kalamazoo College | Kalamazoo | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Northern Michigan University | Marquette | Public | 4 |
| Saginaw Valley State University | University Center | Public | 4 |
| Alma College | Alma | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Cornerstone University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lake Michigan College | Benton Harbor | Public | 3 |
| Aquinas College | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lansing Community College | Lansing | Public | 2 |
| Madonna University | Livonia | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Oakland Community College | Auburn Hills | Public | 2 |
| The University of Olivet | Olivet | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Concordia University Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Grace Christian University | Wyoming | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Rochester Christian University | Rochester Hills | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| University of Michigan-Flint | Flint | Public | 1 |
| Schoolcraft Community College District | Livonia | Public | 1 |
| Southwestern Michigan College | Dowagiac | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Musicians and Singers (SOC 27-2042).
Top skills
What Musicians and Singers earn in Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Music programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most Music degrees?+
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (218 graduates a year), Michigan State University (157 graduates a year) and Western Michigan University (58 graduates a year) award the most Music degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 35 Michigan colleges offer Music.
What is the best college for Music in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, Michigan State University leads among bachelor's Music programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,656, College Scorecard. Grand Valley State University and Wayne State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is the largest, with 218 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Music program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Michigan State University tops the list at $38,656. 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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