2026 Best Music Education Master’s Degree Schools

1

New York University
New York, NY

Leading the list is New York University, our #1 school for music education. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 18 music education students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music education degree from New York University earn around $69,231 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,403. Read more about the music education program at New York University

2

Cuny Hunter College
New York, NY

Cuny Hunter College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #2 spot this year. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cuny Hunter College awarded about 21 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Music Education graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $73,962 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000. Get the full music education details for Cuny Hunter College

3

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Champaign, IL

A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for music education. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 10 music education degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Graduates of the music education program make about $55,312 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree. See the full music education program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

4

Cuny Queens College
Queens, NY

Cuny Queens College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best music education schools. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public institution. Cuny Queens College graduates 53% of students within six years. Cuny Queens College awarded about 18 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $75,530 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,000. See the full music education program report for Cuny Queens College

5

San Jose State University
San Jose, CA

San Jose State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music education, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 music education students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year. Get the full music education details for San Jose State University

6

Boston University
Boston, MA

Boston University placed #6 among the best music education schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Boston University awarded about 46 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $59,382 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,125. See the full music education program report for Boston University

7

Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best music education schools. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 27 music education degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music education degree from Florida State University earn around $60,227 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music education from Florida State University

8

Ohio State University Main Campus
Columbus, OH

Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best music education schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 music education degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $56,620. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. See the full music education program report for Ohio State University Main Campus

9

University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

University Of Florida ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best music education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 41 music education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $55,380 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,275. Get the full music education details for University Of Florida

10

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #10 among the best music education schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 10 music education degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. Typical student debt for the program is $19,137. Read more about the music education program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

11

Teachers College At Columbia University
New York, NY

Teachers College At Columbia University earned the #11 position for music education this year. Located in the city of New York, Teachers College At Columbia University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. There were roughly 80 music education students who graduated with this degree at Teachers College At Columbia University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Teachers College At Columbia University generally make around $71,195. Read more about the music education program at Teachers College At Columbia University

12

West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
West Chester, PA

West Chester University Of Pennsylvania came in at #12 for music education this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 music education students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Get the full music education details for West Chester University Of Pennsylvania

13

Cuny Lehman College
Bronx, NY

Cuny Lehman College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best music education schools. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. About 51% of students finish within six years. Cuny Lehman College awarded about 13 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $80,081 in their early career. Cuny Lehman College graduates carry a median of $13,213 in student loans. See the full music education program report for Cuny Lehman College

14

University Of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO

University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best music education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Boulder. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 music education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent data year. Music Education graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $56,935 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,373. Get the full music education details for University Of Colorado Boulder

15

University Of St Thomas Minnesota
Saint Paul, MN

University Of St Thomas Minnesota placed #15 among the best music education schools. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. About 77% of students finish within six years. University Of St Thomas Minnesota awarded about 15 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Music Education graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $63,472 early in their careers. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the music education program at University Of St Thomas Minnesota

16

Auburn University
Auburn, AL

Auburn University earned the #16 position for music education this year. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 12 music education students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $49,916. Typical student debt for the program is $23,600. Read more about the music education program at Auburn University

17

Eastern Washington University
Cheney, WA

Eastern Washington University placed #17 among the best music education schools. Set in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a large public institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 music education students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Washington University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Eastern Washington University generally make around $41,914. Students borrow a median of $23,009 to complete this degree. Read more about the music education program at Eastern Washington University

18

Utah State University
Logan, UT

Utah State University earned the #18 position for music education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Logan. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Utah State University awarded about 11 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $64,232 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,757 to complete this degree. Read more about the music education program at Utah State University

19

Ball State University
Muncie, IN

Ball State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best music education schools. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 music education students who graduated with this degree at Ball State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $53,142. Typical student debt for the program is $24,998. More information about a degree in music education from Ball State University

20

Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ

Northern Arizona University earned the #20 position for music education this year. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. There were roughly 14 music education students who graduated with this degree at Northern Arizona University in the most recent data year. Music Education graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $53,132 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,009 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music education from Northern Arizona University

21

University Of Hartford
West Hartford, CT

University Of Hartford landed the #21 spot for music education this year. University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of West Hartford. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 11 music education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Hartford in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of Hartford generally make around $71,057. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. See the full music education program report for University Of Hartford

22

University Of Central Florida
Orlando, FL

University Of Central Florida earned the #22 position for music education this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. University Of Central Florida graduates 78% of students within six years. About 19 music education degrees were awarded at University Of Central Florida in the most recent year. Students who receive their music education degree from University Of Central Florida earn around $43,460 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,088 to complete this degree. See the full music education program report for University Of Central Florida

23

Emporia State University
Emporia, KS

Emporia State University came in at #23 for music education this year. Set in the town of Emporia, Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Emporia State University graduates 56% of students within six years. About 10 music education degrees were awarded at Emporia State University in the most recent year. Music Education graduates of Emporia State University earn a median of $61,434 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500. Read more about the music education program at Emporia State University

24

Georgia College And State University
Milledgeville, GA

Georgia College And State University placed #24 among the best music education schools. Set in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 music education students who graduated with this degree at Georgia College And State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music education degree from Georgia College And State University earn around $52,718 in the first couple years of their career. Georgia College And State University graduates carry a median of $24,412 in student loans. See the full music education program report for Georgia College And State University

25

University Of Nebraska Lincoln
Lincoln, NE

University Of Nebraska Lincoln ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best music education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lincoln. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 21 music education degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $45,786. University Of Nebraska Lincoln graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Read more about the music education program at University Of Nebraska Lincoln