Best colleges for Music in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
Lebanon Valley College, Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania are the top bachelor's Music programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. Lebanon Valley College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,383, College Scorecard. Temple University, Carnegie Mellon University and West Chester University of Pennsylvania award the most Music degrees in Pennsylvania: 150, 99 and 68 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 54 Pennsylvania colleges offer Music and award 889 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 10 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 | Lebanon Valley College Annville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,383 | 24 | 65% | $24,925 | $26,846 |
| 2 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,070 | 29 | 56% | — | $27,956 |
| 3 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,429 | 31 | 54% | — | — |
| 4 | Duquesne University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,854 | 51 | 77% | $32,060 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,895 | 43 | 58% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | Temple University Philadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree | $19,507 | 150 | 75% | — | $24,000 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $18,462 | 66 | 86% | — | $26,923 |
| 8 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown Public · Bachelor's degree | $17,725 | 21 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 9 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,660 | 2 | 66% | — | $27,000 |
| 10 | Gettysburg College Gettysburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $27,556 | 12 | 83% | $24,453 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Music degrees in Pennsylvania
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 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 150 | $19,507 |
| 2 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 99 | Not reported |
| 3 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester Public | 68 | Not reported |
| 4 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 66 | $18,462 |
| 5 | Duquesne University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 51 | $27,854 |
| 6 | Messiah University Mechanicsburg Private not-for-profit | 44 | Not reported |
| 7 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville Public | 43 | $26,895 |
| 8 | Curtis Institute of Music Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 40 | Not reported |
| 9 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Public | 31 | $31,429 |
| 10 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public | 29 | $33,070 |
ShowHide the other 44 Pennsylvania colleges offering Music
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon Valley College | Annville | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Community College of Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Public | 22 |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Kutztown | Public | 21 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | Pittsburgh | Public | 17 |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Gettysburg College | Gettysburg | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Muhlenberg College | Allentown | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Bucks County Community College | Newtown | Public | 9 |
| Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Public | 8 |
| University of Valley Forge | Phoenixville | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Albright College | Reading | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Lancaster Bible College | Lancaster | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Pennsylvania Western University | California | Public | 7 |
| Chatham University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Cairn University - Langhorne | Langhorne | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Eastern University | Saint Davids | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Grove City College | Grove City | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Seton Hill University | Greensburg | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Franklin and Marshall College | Lancaster | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Lycoming College | Williamsport | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Mercyhurst University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Montgomery County Community College | Blue Bell | Public | 4 |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Academy of Vocal Arts | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Haverford College | Haverford | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Immaculata University | Immaculata | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Marywood University | Scranton | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Westminster College | New Wilmington | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Bryn Mawr College | Bryn Mawr | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Bucknell University | Lewisburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lincoln University | Lincoln University | Public | 2 |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock | Public | 2 |
| Dickinson College | Carlisle | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Geneva College | Beaver Falls | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Lafayette College | Easton | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Saint Vincent College | Latrobe | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Ursinus College | Collegeville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Washington & Jefferson College | Washington | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Waynesburg University | Waynesburg | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | York | 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 Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Music programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Music degrees?+
Temple University (150 graduates a year), Carnegie Mellon University (99 graduates a year) and West Chester University of Pennsylvania (68 graduates a year) award the most Music degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 54 Pennsylvania colleges offer Music.
What is the best college for Music in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, Lebanon Valley College leads among bachelor's Music programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,383, College Scorecard. Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania follow. By degrees awarded, Temple University is the largest, with 150 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Music program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Lebanon Valley College tops the list at $49,383. 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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