Best institutions to study Music
Compare 1,201 U.S. colleges offering Music by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 54 states.
Music programs report a median of $25,484 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), 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 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | 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 | Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, LA Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,404 | 18 | 45% | — | $30,745 |
| 22 | Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,038 | 3 | 43% | — | $27,000 |
| 23 | Radford University Radford, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,593 | 17 | 49% | — | $27,000 |
| 24 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,564 | 151 | 89% | — | $26,000 |
| 25 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,121 | 97 | 75% | — | $27,783 |
| 26 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,008 | 28 | 40% | — | $31,000 |
| 27 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,831 | 22 | 69% | — | $25,858 |
| 28 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,811 | 33 | 71% | — | $27,000 |
| 29 | Montana State University Bozeman, MT Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,807 | 8 | 57% | — | — |
| 30 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,657 | 117 | 79% | — | $27,000 |
| 31 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,656 | 157 | 81% | — | $26,750 |
| 32 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,277 | 63 | 67% | — | $26,837 |
| 33 | University of Mississippi University, MS Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,029 | 33 | 72% | — | $17,250 |
| 34 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,660 | 2 | 66% | — | $27,000 |
| 35 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,163 | 36 | 47% | — | $26,300 |
| 36 | The University of Texas at Tyler Tyler, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,104 | 14 | 54% | — | — |
| 37 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,020 | 54 | 54% | — | $24,911 |
| 38 | Rutgers University - Camden Camden, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,707 | 2 | 67% | — | $26,000 |
| 39 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,707 | 97 | 84% | — | $26,000 |
| 40 | Rutgers University - Newark Newark, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,707 | 3 | 64% | — | $26,000 |
| 41 | University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,465 | 31 | 54% | — | $29,139 |
| 42 | McNeese State University Lake Charles, LA Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,305 | 8 | 47% | — | $23,250 |
| 43 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,293 | 23 | 52% | — | $25,062 |
| 44 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,252 | 77 | 65% | — | $27,000 |
| 45 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,106 | 74 | 80% | — | $20,968 |
| 46 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,939 | 58 | 75% | — | $27,000 |
| 47 | University of Missouri - St Louis Saint Louis, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,835 | 6 | 57% | — | — |
| 48 | University of North Alabama Florence, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,599 | 19 | 55% | — | $24,000 |
| 49 | University of Massachusetts - Lowell Lowell, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,311 | 41 | 65% | — | $27,000 |
| 50 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,882 | 26 | 67% | — | $29,198 |
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.
Concentrations within Music
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Music, GeneralCIP 50.0901
A general program that focuses on the introductory study and appreciation of music and the performing arts
- Music History, Literature, and TheoryCIP 50.0902
A program that focuses on the study of the historical evolution of music as a social and intellectual phenomenon, the development of musical instruments and techniques, and the analysis and criticism
- Music Performance, GeneralCIP 50.0903
A program that generally prepares individuals to master musical instruments and performing art as solo and/or ensemble performers
- Music Theory and CompositionCIP 50.0904
A program that focuses on the study of the principles of sound manipulation as applied to the creation of music, and the techniques of creating and arranging music
- Musicology and EthnomusicologyCIP 50.0905
A program that focuses on the systematic study of the forms and methods of music art, and the functions of music, in Western and non-Western societies and cultures
- ConductingCIP 50.0906
A program that prepares individuals to master the art of leading bands, choirs, orchestras and other ensembles in performance, and related music leadership
- Keyboard InstrumentsCIP 50.0907
A program that prepares individuals to master the piano, organ, or related keyboard instruments and performing art as solo, ensemble, and/or accompanist performers
- Voice and OperaCIP 50.0908
A program that prepares individuals to master the human voice and performing art as solo and/or ensemble performers in concert, choir, opera, or other forms of singing
- Jazz/Jazz StudiesCIP 50.0910
A program that prepares individuals to study and master the performance and composition of Jazz
- Stringed InstrumentsCIP 50.0911
A program that prepares individual to master a stringed instrument and performing arts as solo, ensemble and/or accompanist performers
- Music PedagogyCIP 50.0912
A program that prepares individuals to provide musical instruction and tutoring to clients in private and institutional settings
- Music TechnologyCIP 50.0913
A program that focuses on the creative aspects of the blending of music and technology; and that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to the composition, recording, synthesis,
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 of $25,484 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024).
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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