Best colleges for Music in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Western Carolina University are the top bachelor's Music programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. University of North Carolina at Charlotte leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,831, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of North Carolina School of the Arts and East Carolina University award the most Music degrees in North Carolina: 109, 53 and 41 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 39 North Carolina colleges offer Music and award 466 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 6 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 North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,831 | 22 | 69% | — | $25,858 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,880 | 29 | 91% | — | $19,000 |
| 3 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,135 | 34 | 60% | — | $27,000 |
| 4 | Appalachian State University Boone Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,304 | 22 | 75% | — | $26,000 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $15,670 | 109 | 56% | — | $26,000 |
| 6 | Catawba College Salisbury Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $23,577 | 6 | 47% | $17,916 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Music degrees in North Carolina
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 North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public | 109 | $15,670 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina School of the Arts Winston Salem Public | 53 | Not reported |
| 3 | East Carolina University Greenville Public | 41 | Not reported |
| 4 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public | 34 | $26,135 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville Public | 29 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public | 29 | $32,880 |
| 7 | Appalachian State University Boone Public | 22 | $23,304 |
| 8 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public | 22 | $38,831 |
| 9 | Duke University Durham Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
| 10 | North Carolina Central University Durham Public | 10 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 29 North Carolina colleges offering Music
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth City State University | Elizabeth City | Public | 9 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke | Public | 8 |
| Meredith College | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Catawba College | Salisbury | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro | Public | 6 |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | Wilmington | Public | 6 |
| Wingate University | Wingate | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Elon University | Elon | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem | Public | 5 |
| Davidson College | Davidson | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Salem College | Winston-Salem | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Warren Wilson College | Swannanoa | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Chowan University | Murfreesboro | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Guilford College | Greensboro | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Shaw University | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville | Public | 2 |
| Greensboro College | Greensboro | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| High Point University | High Point | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Brevard College | Brevard | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Livingstone College | Salisbury | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Mars Hill University | Mars Hill | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Methodist University | Fayetteville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Montreat College | Montreat | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| University of Mount Olive | Mount Olive | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem | 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 North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Music programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Music degrees?+
University of North Carolina at Greensboro (109 graduates a year), University of North Carolina School of the Arts (53 graduates a year) and East Carolina University (41 graduates a year) award the most Music degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 39 North Carolina colleges offer Music.
What is the best college for Music in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, University of North Carolina at Charlotte leads among bachelor's Music programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,831, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Western Carolina University follow. By degrees awarded, University of North Carolina at Greensboro is the largest, with 109 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Music program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of North Carolina at Charlotte tops the list at $38,831. 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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