Best colleges for Music
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Music by graduate earnings are Sam Houston State University ($59,926), The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ($56,373) and Texas A&M University - Kingsville ($56,072), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, TX): $59,926, 67 graduates a year
- The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (Edinburg, TX): $56,373, 43 graduates a year
- Texas A&M University - Kingsville (Kingsville, TX): $56,072, 42 graduates a year
- The University of Texas at El Paso (El Paso, TX): $56,062, 51 graduates a year
- University of Houston (Houston, TX): $52,799, 91 graduates a year
Compare 1,201 U.S. colleges offering Music by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 54 states.
Music programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $25,484 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 50.09 and the Musicians and Singers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Music programs
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 to explore their passion for music in a structured academic environment.
Students in the Music program develop core skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework may include music theory, performance techniques, and the study of music history and literature, equipping students with a well-rounded understanding of the musical arts.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,926 | 67 | 55% | — | $28,000 |
| 2 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $56,373 | 43 | 51% | — | $20,920 |
| 3 | Texas A&M University - Kingsville Kingsville, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $56,072 | 42 | 42% | — | $31,000 |
| 4 | The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $56,062 | 51 | 50% | — | $14,612 |
| 5 | University of Houston Houston, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,799 | 91 | 65% | — | $26,000 |
| 6 | East Texas A&M University Commerce, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,282 | 56 | 43% | — | $27,101 |
| 7 | Texas State University San Marcos, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,158 | 92 | 55% | — | $26,241 |
| 8 | West Texas A & M University Canyon, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,881 | 30 | 55% | — | $24,750 |
| 9 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,906 | 102 | 69% | — | $27,816 |
| 10 | Lebanon Valley College Annville, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,383 | 24 | 65% | $24,925 | $26,846 |
| 11 | Stephen F Austin State University Nacogdoches, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,318 | 93 | 53% | — | $27,000 |
| 12 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,151 | 68 | 51% | — | $31,000 |
| 13 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,010 | 52 | 53% | — | $24,570 |
| 14 | Luther College Decorah, IA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,367 | 33 | 71% | $22,827 | $27,000 |
| 15 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,635 | 21 | 58% | — | $17,500 |
| 16 | Texas Woman's University Denton, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,058 | 42 | 49% | — | $25,810 |
| 17 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,764 | 47 | 64% | — | $26,637 |
| 18 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,830 | 68 | 49% | — | $29,000 |
| 19 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,548 | 69 | 65% | — | $16,500 |
| 20 | Lamar University Beaumont, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,328 | 37 | 37% | — | $26,407 |
| 21 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,564 | 151 | 89% | — | $26,000 |
| 22 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,121 | 97 | 75% | — | $27,783 |
| 23 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,008 | 28 | 40% | — | $31,000 |
| 24 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,831 | 22 | 69% | — | $25,858 |
| 25 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,811 | 33 | 71% | — | $27,000 |
Specializations within Music
17 of the 17 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 50.09 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- MusicCIP 50.090110,232 graduates / yr976 institutions54 states
- Music PerformanceCIP 50.09036,946 graduates / yr375 institutions50 states
- Music TechnologyCIP 50.09132,092 graduates / yr122 institutions37 states
- Music Theory and CompositionCIP 50.09041,282 graduates / yr145 institutions35 states
- MusicCIP 50.09991,199 graduates / yr88 institutions36 states
- Voice and OperaCIP 50.0908641 graduates / yr81 institutions31 states
- Jazz/CIP 50.0910
Jazz Studies 592 graduates / yr59 institutions30 states - Stringed InstrumentsCIP 50.0911583 graduates / yr29 institutions17 states
- Keyboard InstrumentsCIP 50.0907528 graduates / yr59 institutions27 states
- Music PedagogyCIP 50.0912397 graduates / yr51 institutions28 states
- Musicology and EthnomusicologyCIP 50.0905165 graduates / yr36 institutions21 states
- ConductingCIP 50.0906159 graduates / yr53 institutions26 states
- Woodwind InstrumentsCIP 50.0915148 graduates / yr16 institutions11 states
- Music History, Literature, and TheoryCIP 50.0902131 graduates / yr28 institutions17 states
- Brass InstrumentsCIP 50.0914103 graduates / yr15 institutions12 states
- Percussion InstrumentsCIP 50.091640 graduates / yr14 institutions11 states
- Sound ArtsCIP 50.0917New in CIP 2020partial data38 graduates / yr7 institutions5 states
Offered across 54 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-2042, Musicians and Singers, and its national outlook.
Career opportunities in the music field are diverse, with an annual opening of approximately 19,400 positions. The job outlook indicates little or no change, with a growth rate of 1.1%. While formal educational credentials are not always required, specialized training and experience can enhance career prospects.
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Music
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 50.09.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 50.09 (Music) maps to 6 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 25-1121 | Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-2031 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education |
| 27-2041 | Music Directors and Composers |
| 27-2042 | Musicians and Singersprimary |
| 27-2091 | Disc Jockeys, Except Radio |
| 27-4014 | Sound Engineering Technicians |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Music programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Perform before live audiences in concerts, recitals, educational presentations, and other social gatherings.
- Sing a cappella or with musical accompaniment.
- Interpret or modify music, applying knowledge of harmony, melody, rhythm, and voice production to individualize presentations and maintain audience interest.
- Specialize in playing a specific family of instruments or a particular type of music.
- Sing as a soloist or as a member of a vocal group.
- Observe choral leaders or prompters for cues or directions in vocal presentation.
Common questions
What specializations are available in the Music program?+
Specializations include Music Performance, Music Theory and Composition, Musicology, and more.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Music?+
Careers include performing, teaching, and musicology, among others.
Is formal education required to work in music?+
No formal educational credential is typically required, but specialized training can be beneficial.
How much do Music graduates earn?+
Music graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $25,484, College Scorecard (2019).
What is the CIP code for Music?+
Music maps to CIP 50.09 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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