Best colleges for Music in Missouri
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Central Missouri and University of Missouri-Kansas City are the top bachelor's Music programs in Missouri by graduate earnings. University of Missouri-Columbia leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,939, College Scorecard. University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Missouri-Columbia and Missouri State University - Springfield award the most Music degrees in Missouri: 107, 58 and 35 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 28 Missouri colleges offer Music and award 347 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 Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,939 | 58 | 75% | — | $27,000 |
| 2 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,321 | 23 | 54% | — | $21,750 |
| 3 | University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City Public · Bachelor's degree | $22,315 | 107 | 55% | — | $23,089 |
| 4 | University of Missouri-St Louis Saint Louis Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,835 | 6 | 57% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Music degrees in Missouri
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 Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City Public | 107 | $22,315 |
| 2 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public | 58 | $35,939 |
| 3 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public | 35 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Public | 23 | $30,321 |
| 5 | Truman State University Kirksville Public | 23 | Not reported |
| 6 | Evangel University Springfield Private not-for-profit | 12 | Not reported |
| 7 | Webster University Saint Louis Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
| 8 | Park University Parkville Private not-for-profit | 8 | Not reported |
| 9 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau Public | 7 | Not reported |
| 10 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis Private not-for-profit | 7 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 18 Missouri colleges offering Music
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Charles Community College | Cottleville | Public | 7 |
| East Central College | Union | Public | 6 |
| University of Missouri-St Louis | Saint Louis | Public | 6 |
| Southwest Baptist University | Bolivar | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | Fayette | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| William Jewell College | Liberty | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Evangel University - College of Online Learning (Online) | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Lindenwood University | Saint Charles | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Northwest Missouri State University | Maryville | Public | 3 |
| College of the Ozarks | Point Lookout | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Calvary University | Kansas City | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Culver-Stockton College | Canton | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Missouri Southern State University | Joplin | Public | 2 |
| Missouri Western State University | Saint Joseph | Public | 2 |
| Urshan University | Wentzville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Jefferson College | Hillsboro | Public | 1 |
| Missouri Baptist University | Saint Louis | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Saint Louis University | Saint Louis | 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 Missouri
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Music programs in Missouri.
Which Missouri colleges award the most Music degrees?+
University of Missouri-Kansas City (107 graduates a year), University of Missouri-Columbia (58 graduates a year) and Missouri State University - Springfield (35 graduates a year) award the most Music degrees in Missouri, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 28 Missouri colleges offer Music.
What is the best college for Music in Missouri?+
By graduate earnings, University of Missouri-Columbia leads among bachelor's Music programs in Missouri, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,939, College Scorecard. University of Central Missouri and University of Missouri-Kansas City follow. By degrees awarded, University of Missouri-Kansas City is the largest, with 107 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Music program in Missouri has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Missouri-Columbia tops the list at $35,939. 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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