Best institutions to study Sound Arts
A program that focuses on sound as a form of cultural expression, and its relationship to other disciplines such as computer programming, performance, and video.
7 U.S. institutions graduated 38 Sound Arts students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 50.0917, a specialization of Music (CIP 50.09), and leads most directly to the Music Directors and Composers occupation (BLS SOC 27-2041).
About Sound Arts programs
A program that focuses on sound as a form of cultural expression, and its relationship to other disciplines such as computer programming, performance, and video. Includes instruction in acoustics; arranging, composing, and editing music; music theory; musicology; orchestration and scoring; and sound design.
See also: 10.0203 - Recording Arts Technology/Technician.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Sound Arts program, part of the Music field within Visual and Performing Arts, focuses on sound as a form of cultural expression. This program explores the relationship between sound and various disciplines, including computer programming, performance, and video, making it ideal for those interested in the multifaceted nature of sound in contemporary contexts.
Students in the Sound Arts program gain essential skills in areas such as acoustics, music theory, arranging, composing, and sound design. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, active listening, and practical application of music theory to develop a deep understanding of musical structures and performance techniques.
Credentials awarded
What Sound Arts graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree32 graduates / yr · 5 institutions84%
- Associate's degree5 graduates / yr · 1 institution13%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.6%
Graduates over time
Sound Arts completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 26 |
| 2023 | 33 |
| 2024 | 52 |
| 2025 | 38 |
CIP 50.0917 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 7 institutions for Sound Arts, 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 | State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, NYPublicBachelor's | 13 | 60% | — | — |
| 2 | University of Massachusetts - Lowell Lowell, MAPublicBachelor's | 12 | 65% | — | $35,311 |
| 3 | Michigan Technological University Houghton, MIPublicBachelor's | 5 | 68% | — | — |
| 4 | Onondaga Community College Syracuse, NYPublicAssociate's | 5 | 27% | — | — |
| 5 | Hampshire College Amherst, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 54% | $22,968 | — |
| 6 | Union University Jackson, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 66% | $25,882 | — |
| 7 | Utah Valley University Orem, UTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 45% | — | $24,952 |
* 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 5 states
Where Sound Arts graduates come from. Each state links to all Music programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 2 | 18 | State University of New York at Oswego13 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 13 | University of Massachusetts - Lowell12 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 5 | Michigan Technological University5 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 1 | Union University1 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 1 | Utah Valley University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-2041, Music Directors and Composers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Sound Arts program can pursue careers as Music Directors and Composers or Art, Drama, and Music Teachers at the postsecondary level. The job outlook indicates little or no change in growth, with approximately 4,300 annual openings and a median wage of $63,670 for those with a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 50.0917
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Music Directors and Composersprimary SOC 27-2041 | $73,710 | -0.3% Little or no change | ~4,300 | Bachelor's degree |
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 Sound Arts 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
- Use gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects.
- Direct groups at rehearsals and live or recorded performances to achieve desired effects such as tonal and harmonic balance dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.
- Study scores to learn the music in detail, and to develop interpretations.
- Apply elements of music theory to create musical and tonal structures, including harmonies and melodies.
- Consider such factors as ensemble size and abilities, availability of scores, and the need for musical variety, to select music to be performed.
- Determine voices, instruments, harmonic structures, rhythms, tempos, and tone balances required to achieve the effects desired in a musical composition.
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
- Percussion InstrumentsCIP 50.091640 graduates / yr14 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in the Sound Arts program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, an Associate's degree, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, writing, and sound design.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Music Director, Composer, or a postsecondary Music Teacher.
What is the job outlook for careers in Sound Arts?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 4,300 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Sound Arts?+
Sound Arts is CIP 50.0917 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 focuses on sound as a form of cultural expression, and its relationship to other disciplines such as computer programming, performance, and video. Includes instruction in acoustics; arranging, composing, and editing music; music theory; musicology; orchestration and scoring; and sound design.
How many institutions offer Sound Arts programs?+
7 U.S. institutions reported Sound Arts graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 5 states, awarding 38 credentials in the year. That is 0.2% of all Music graduates.
How much do Sound Arts graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Music Directors and Composers occupation, which Sound Arts most directly leads to, pays a median of $73,710 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Music field report median earnings of $35,311 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card