Best institutions to study Music Performance
A program that generally prepares individuals to master musical instruments and performing art as solo and/or ensemble performers.
375 U.S. institutions graduated 6,946 Music Performance students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 50.0903, a specialization of Music (CIP 50.09), and leads most directly to the Musicians and Singers occupation (BLS SOC 27-2042).
About Music Performance programs
A program that generally prepares individuals to master musical instruments and performing art as solo and/or ensemble performers. Includes instruction on one or more specific instruments from various instrumental groupings.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Music Performance program focuses on preparing individuals to master musical instruments and perform as soloists or in ensembles. This program is ideal for aspiring musicians who wish to develop their skills in various instrumental groupings and gain experience performing in front of live audiences. Students will have opportunities to engage in concerts, recitals, and educational presentations, enhancing their artistic expression and performance techniques.
In this program, students will acquire essential skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically covers music theory, instrument mastery, and performance techniques, allowing students to interpret and modify music while maintaining audience interest.
Credentials awarded
What Music Performance graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree3,662 graduates / yr · 320 institutions53%
- Master's degree2,156 graduates / yr · 123 institutions31%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship438 graduates / yr · 29 institutions6.3%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate203 graduates / yr · 40 institutions2.9%
- Associate's degree183 graduates / yr · 29 institutions2.6%
- Post-master's certificate102 graduates / yr · 14 institutions1.5%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year83 graduates / yr · 9 institutions1.2%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years51 graduates / yr · 5 institutions0.7%
- Doctor's degree - professional practice50 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.7%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years13 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.2%
- Doctor's degree - other3 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.0%
- Award of less than 12 weeks2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
Music Performance completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 8,125 |
| 2013 | 8,354 |
| 2014 | 8,158 |
| 2015 | 7,920 |
| 2016 | 8,043 |
| 2017 | 7,542 |
| 2018 | 7,648 |
| 2019 | 7,672 |
| 2020 | 7,790 |
| 2021 | 7,113 |
| 2022 | 7,071 |
| 2023 | 7,045 |
| 2024 | 7,015 |
| 2025 | 6,946 |
Top 50 institutions for Music Performance, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berklee College of Music Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert.Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 371 | 67% | $46,197 | $18,177 |
| 2 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 310 | 80% | — | $15,911 |
| 3 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sPost-degree cert.Doctoral | 211 | 94% | $11,888 | $16,479 |
| 4 | University of Rochester Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 166 | 85% | $25,874 | $14,310 |
| 5 | Musicians Institute Hollywood, CAPrivate for-profitAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsBachelor'sMaster's | 162 | 53% | $37,963 | — |
| 6 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 158 | 93% | — | $22,272 |
| 7 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sMaster's | 155 | 88% | $29,023 | $24,398 |
| 8 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral (prof.) | 147 | 75% | — | $12,875 |
| 9 | University of North Texas Denton, TXPublicMaster'sDoctoralBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 132 | 61% | — | $31,450 |
| 10 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 119 | 89% | $21,956 | $23,934 |
| 11 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 109 | 86% | — | $19,429 |
| 12 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, COPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 104 | 74% | — | — |
| 13 | Cleveland Institute of Music Cleveland, OHPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sPost-degree cert.DoctoralAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 97 | 72% | $32,899 | — |
| 14 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicBachelor'sDoctoral (prof.)Master's | 92 | 84% | — | $36,707 |
| 15 | Oberlin College Oberlin, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 88 | 81% | $28,313 | $17,141 |
| 16 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NCPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 83 | 56% | — | $15,670 |
| 17 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 82 | 69% | — | $18,352 |
| 18 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 81 | 68% | — | $15,721 |
| 19 | California State University - Northridge Northridge, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 78 | 57% | — | $18,226 |
| 20 | The New School New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 77 | 69% | $54,185 | $12,109 |
| 21 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicDoctoralMaster'sBachelor's | 72 | 81% | — | $38,656 |
| 22 | DePaul University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sMaster's | 68 | 68% | $28,141 | $19,155 |
| 23 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LAPublicMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 68 | 69% | — | — |
| 24 | University of Missouri - Kansas City Kansas City, MOPublicDoctoralMaster'sBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 68 | 55% | — | $22,315 |
| 25 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 68 | 80% | — | $36,106 |
| 26 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 62 | 53% | — | $25,108 |
| 27 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb, ILPublicBachelor'sMaster'sMaster's | 62 | 49% | — | $42,830 |
| 28 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 59 | 76% | — | $20,440 |
| 29 | Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 55 | 68% | $24,278 | — |
| 30 | University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NMPublicMaster'sMaster'sBachelor's | 54 | 55% | — | — |
| 31 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OHPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 53 | 64% | — | $20,632 |
| 32 | University of North Carolina School of the Arts Winston Salem, NCPublicMaster'sBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 52 | 78% | — | — |
| 33 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SCPublicDoctoralAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 52 | 79% | — | $38,657 |
| 34 | Oklahoma City University Oklahoma City, OKPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 49 | 65% | $22,589 | $18,784 |
| 35 | Shenandoah University Winchester, VAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 49 | 67% | $27,455 | — |
| 36 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoralMaster's | 48 | 92% | $26,873 | $12,947 |
| 37 | Baylor University Waco, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 48 | 80% | $35,682 | $10,210 |
| 38 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicMaster'sBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 47 | 75% | — | $19,507 |
| 39 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 46 | 56% | — | $25,391 |
| 40 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NYPublicDoctoralMaster's | 46 | 76% | — | — |
| 41 | George Mason University Fairfax, VAPublicBachelor's | 45 | 68% | — | $34,611 |
| 42 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 44 | 95% | $14,799 | $34,823 |
| 43 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 42 | 70% | — | $23,969 |
| 44 | Columbus State University Columbus, GAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 42 | 42% | — | — |
| 45 | Lawrence University Appleton, WIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 42 | 77% | $19,788 | — |
| 46 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FLPublicBachelor's | 41 | 78% | — | $21,957 |
| 47 | University of South Florida Tampa, FLPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 41 | 77% | — | — |
| 48 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 38 | 53% | — | $21,509 |
| 49 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor's | 38 | 93% | — | $22,125 |
| 50 | Messiah University Mechanicsburg, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster'sBachelor's | 36 | 75% | $25,675 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Music field (CIP 50.09) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 50 states & territories
Where Music Performance graduates come from. Each state links to all Music programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-2042, Musicians and Singers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Music Performance program can pursue careers as musicians and singers, music directors, or postsecondary music teachers. The job outlook for this field shows little to no change, with an annual opening of approximately 19,400 positions. While formal educational credentials are not always required, a bachelor's or master's degree can enhance career prospects.
Career pathways for CIP 50.0903
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Musicians and Singersprimary SOC 27-2042 | — | +1.1% Little or no change | ~19,400 | No formal educational credential |
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1121 | $78,620 | +1.7% Little or no change | ~9,000 | Master's degree |
Music Directors and Composers SOC 27-2041 | $73,710 | -0.3% Little or no change | ~4,300 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Music Performance programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Other Music specializations
The 16 other 6-digit CIP codes under Music (CIP 50.09).
- MusicCIP 50.090110,232 graduates / yr976 institutions
- Music TechnologyCIP 50.09132,092 graduates / yr122 institutions
- Music Theory and CompositionCIP 50.09041,282 graduates / yr145 institutions
- MusicCIP 50.09991,199 graduates / yr88 institutions
- Voice and OperaCIP 50.0908641 graduates / yr81 institutions
- Jazz/CIP 50.0910
Jazz Studies 592 graduates / yr59 institutions - Stringed InstrumentsCIP 50.0911583 graduates / yr29 institutions
- Keyboard InstrumentsCIP 50.0907528 graduates / yr59 institutions
- Music PedagogyCIP 50.0912397 graduates / yr51 institutions
- Musicology and EthnomusicologyCIP 50.0905165 graduates / yr36 institutions
- ConductingCIP 50.0906159 graduates / yr53 institutions
- Woodwind InstrumentsCIP 50.0915148 graduates / yr16 institutions
- Music History, Literature, and TheoryCIP 50.0902131 graduates / yr28 institutions
- Brass InstrumentsCIP 50.0914103 graduates / yr15 institutions
- Percussion InstrumentsCIP 50.091640 graduates / yr14 institutions
- Sound ArtsCIP 50.0917partial data38 graduates / yr7 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Doctor's degree, or a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You'll develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and music performance.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can become a musician, music director, or postsecondary music teacher.
What is the job outlook for musicians?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 19,400 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Music Performance?+
Music Performance is CIP 50.0903 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Music (CIP 50.09). NCES defines it as: A program that generally prepares individuals to master musical instruments and performing art as solo and/or ensemble performers. Includes instruction on one or more specific instruments from various instrumental groupings.
How many institutions offer Music Performance programs?+
375 U.S. institutions reported Music Performance graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 50 states & territories, awarding 6,946 credentials in the year. That is 27.5% of all Music graduates.
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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