Best institutions to study Percussion Instruments
A program that prepares individuals to master percussion instruments and performing art for a variety of musical settings, including orchestral, solo, chamber, commercial, or nontraditional.
14 U.S. institutions graduated 40 Percussion Instruments students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 50.0916, a specialization of Music (CIP 50.09), and leads most directly to the Musicians and Singers occupation (BLS SOC 27-2042).
About Percussion Instruments programs
A program that prepares individuals to master percussion instruments and performing art for a variety of musical settings, including orchestral, solo, chamber, commercial, or nontraditional. Includes instruction in playing and personal style development.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Percussion Instruments program, part of the Music field in Visual and Performing Arts, prepares individuals to master a variety of percussion instruments for diverse musical settings. Students learn to perform in orchestral, solo, chamber, commercial, and nontraditional environments, developing their personal style and technical skills in the process.
Participants in this program gain essential skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework includes instruction in playing various percussion instruments, including the bass drum, snare drum, timpani, and vibraphone, as well as personal style development.
Credentials awarded
What Percussion Instruments graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree17 graduates / yr · 7 institutions43%
- Bachelor's degree16 graduates / yr · 10 institutions40%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate2 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.0%
- Post-master's certificate2 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.0%
- Associate's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.5%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship1 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.5%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.5%
Graduates over time
Percussion Instruments completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 56 |
| 2013 | 64 |
| 2014 | 58 |
| 2015 | 49 |
| 2016 | 59 |
| 2017 | 53 |
| 2018 | 37 |
| 2019 | 39 |
| 2020 | 40 |
| 2021 | 45 |
| 2022 | 43 |
| 2023 | 42 |
| 2024 | 35 |
| 2025 | 40 |
Top 14 institutions for Percussion Instruments, 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 | The New England Conservatory of Music Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 8 | 73% | $38,781 | — |
| 2 | San Francisco Conservatory of Music San Francisco, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 5 | 74% | $39,487 | $26,916 |
| 3 | Manhattan School of Music New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 4 | 78% | $53,742 | — |
| 4 | Rice University Houston, TXPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 4 | 95% | $13,264 | — |
| 5 | The Juilliard School New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 3 | 93% | $29,763 | — |
| 6 | Los Angeles College of Music Pasadena, CAPrivate for-profitBachelor'sAssociate's | 3 | 41% | $41,257 | $24,059 |
| 7 | University of Hartford West Hartford, CTPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 2 | 54% | $28,311 | $24,511 |
| 8 | Roosevelt University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 35% | $21,085 | — |
| 9 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 80% | — | $15,911 |
| 10 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 94% | $14,854 | — |
| 11 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 2 | 85% | — | — |
| 12 | University of North Alabama Florence, ALPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 55% | — | $35,599 |
| 13 | Chapman University Orange, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 82% | $42,965 | $14,538 |
| 14 | Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music San Juan, PRPublicBachelor's | 1 | 67% | — | $5,005 |
* 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 11 states & territories
Where Percussion Instruments graduates come from. Each state links to all Music programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 3 | 9 | San Francisco Conservatory of Music5 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 8 | The New England Conservatory of Music8 / yr |
| New York | 2 | 7 | Manhattan School of Music4 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 4 | Rice University4 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 2 | University of Hartford2 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 2 | Roosevelt University2 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 2 | Indiana University - Bloomington2 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 2 | Vanderbilt University2 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 2 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus2 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 1 | University of North Alabama1 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 1 | Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-2042, Musicians and Singers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Percussion Instruments program often pursue careers as musicians and singers, with additional opportunities as postsecondary art, drama, and music teachers. The job outlook indicates little or no change, with an annual opening of approximately 19,400 positions and a projected growth rate of 1.1%.
Career pathways for CIP 50.0916
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 |
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 Percussion Instruments 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 PerformanceCIP 50.09036,946 graduates / yr375 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
- 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, Postbaccalaureate certificate, or Post-master's certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and learning strategies.
What instruments will I learn to play?+
You will learn to play various percussion instruments, including bass drum, snare drum, timpani, and vibraphone.
What is the job outlook for percussionists?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 19,400 annual openings projected.
What is the CIP code for Percussion Instruments?+
Percussion Instruments is CIP 50.0916 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 prepares individuals to master percussion instruments and performing art for a variety of musical settings, including orchestral, solo, chamber, commercial, or nontraditional. Includes instruction in playing and personal style development.
How many institutions offer Percussion Instruments programs?+
14 U.S. institutions reported Percussion Instruments graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 11 states & territories, awarding 40 credentials in the year. That is 0.2% 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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