Best colleges for Music in Wisconsin
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are the top bachelor's Music programs in Wisconsin by graduate earnings. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,764, College Scorecard. Lawrence University, University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire award the most Music degrees in Wisconsin: 56, 50 and 47 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 26 Wisconsin colleges offer Music and award 350 degrees and certificates a year in all.
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…
Top 4 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. 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 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,764 | 47 | 64% | — | $26,637 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,134 | 23 | 59% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,875 | 46 | 49% | — | $25,750 |
| 4 | Carthage College Kenosha Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $24,273 | 29 | 64% | $22,844 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Music degrees in Wisconsin
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lawrence University Appleton Private not-for-profit | 56 | Not reported |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison Public | 50 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire Public | 47 | $43,764 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee Public | 46 | $26,875 |
| 5 | Carthage College Kenosha Private not-for-profit | 29 | $24,273 |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater Public | 23 | $31,134 |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh Public | 15 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Parkside Kenosha Public | 9 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point Public | 9 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville Platteville Public | 8 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 16 Wisconsin colleges offering Music
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | Green Bay | Public | 7 |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee | Public | 6 |
| Saint Norbert College | De Pere | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Viterbo University | La Crosse | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls | River Falls | Public | 6 |
| Maranatha Baptist University | Watertown | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | La Crosse | Public | 4 |
| Alverno College | Milwaukee | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Beloit College | Beloit | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Ripon College | Ripon | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| University of Wisconsin-Superior | Superior | Public | 3 |
| Edgewood University | Madison | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Wisconsin Lutheran College | Milwaukee | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Carroll University | Waukesha | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Concordia University - Wisconsin | Mequon | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Lakeland University | Plymouth | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Musicians and Singers (SOC 27-2042).
Top skills
What Musicians and Singers earn in Wisconsin
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Music programs in Wisconsin.
Which Wisconsin colleges award the most Music degrees?+
Lawrence University (56 graduates a year), University of Wisconsin-Madison (50 graduates a year) and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (47 graduates a year) award the most Music degrees in Wisconsin, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 26 Wisconsin colleges offer Music.
What is the best college for Music in Wisconsin?+
By graduate earnings, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire leads among bachelor's Music programs in Wisconsin, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,764, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee follow. By degrees awarded, Lawrence University is the largest, with 56 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Music program in Wisconsin has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire tops the list at $43,764. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
What is the focus of the Music program?+
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…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Musicians and Singers?+
The national job outlook is about +1.1% growth with around 19,400 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A No formal educational credential is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
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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