by our College Data Analytics TeamMusic Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 65 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for music education students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the music education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in music education. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 22 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Get the full music education details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
A rank of #2 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the top schools for music education. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 14 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music education degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $57,901 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,836. Read more about the music education program at University Of Maryland College Park
Students looking for a strong music education program will find one at Cuny Hunter College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 music education students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent data year. Music Education graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $61,604 early in their careers. Cuny Hunter College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Get the full music education details for Cuny Hunter College
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best music education schools. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 music education degrees were awarded at Cuny Brooklyn College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $61,164. Students borrow a median of $13,178 to complete this degree. Get the full music education details for Cuny Brooklyn College
Cuny Queens College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best music education schools. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 57 music education students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Queens College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $67,212 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music education from Cuny Queens College
University Of Delaware landed the #6 spot for music education this year. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Delaware awarded about 24 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Music Education graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $49,041 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,298 to complete this degree. Read more about the music education program at University Of Delaware
New York University earned the #7 position for music education this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 42 music education degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Music Education graduates of New York University earn a median of $56,866 early in their careers. New York University graduates carry a median of $25,403 in student loans. See the full music education program report for New York University
Towson University placed #8 among the best music education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Towson. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 31 music education degrees were awarded at Towson University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music education program make about $56,200 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the music education program at Towson University
Hofstra University earned the #9 position for music education this year. Set in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 17 music education students who graduated with this degree at Hofstra University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $52,451 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,517 to complete this degree. Get the full music education details for Hofstra University
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania came in at #10 for music education this year. Set in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 music education degrees were awarded at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Get the full music education details for West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Rochester ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best music education schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Rochester. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 music education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rochester in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University Of Rochester generally make around $53,127. University Of Rochester graduates carry a median of $21,517 in student loans. Read more about the music education program at University Of Rochester
Teachers College At Columbia University placed #12 among the best music education schools. Located in the city of New York, Teachers College At Columbia University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 91 music education degrees were awarded at Teachers College At Columbia University in the most recent year. Music Education graduates of Teachers College At Columbia University earn a median of $82,636 early in their careers. Get the full music education details for Teachers College At Columbia University
Temple University placed #13 among the best music education schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Temple University graduates 75% of students within six years. Temple University awarded about 37 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Music Education graduates of Temple University earn a median of $54,736 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Get the full music education details for Temple University
Syracuse University earned the #14 position for music education this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Syracuse University awarded about 11 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $53,557. Typical student debt for the program is $26,664. Get the full music education details for Syracuse University
Ithaca College landed the #15 spot for music education this year. Set in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Ithaca College awarded about 30 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $53,562 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,500. Read more about the music education program at Ithaca College
Rider University landed the #16 spot for music education this year. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 13 music education degrees were awarded at Rider University in the most recent year. Music Education graduates of Rider University earn a median of $52,940 early in their careers. Rider University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in music education from Rider University
Cuny Lehman College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best music education schools. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cuny Lehman College awarded about 13 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $90,725 in their early career. Cuny Lehman College graduates carry a median of $13,213 in student loans. Get the full music education details for Cuny Lehman College
Susquehanna University came in at #18 for music education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Selinsgrove. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 music education students who graduated with this degree at Susquehanna University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $39,097 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full music education details for Susquehanna University
University At Buffalo came in at #19 for music education this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 music education students who graduated with this degree at University At Buffalo in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $50,041. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans. Read more about the music education program at University At Buffalo
Messiah College came in at #20 for music education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Messiah College awarded about 18 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Music Education graduates of Messiah College earn a median of $50,825 early in their careers. Messiah College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full music education program report for Messiah College
Duquesne University earned the #21 position for music education this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 11 music education degrees were awarded at Duquesne University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music education degree from Duquesne University earn around $47,897 in the first couple years of their career. Duquesne University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the music education program at Duquesne University
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania came in at #22 for music education this year. Located in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 14 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music education degree from Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earn around $47,825 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music education from Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania
Lebanon Valley College landed the #23 spot for music education this year. Located in the suburb of Annville, Lebanon Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 32 music education degrees were awarded at Lebanon Valley College in the most recent year. Music Education graduates of Lebanon Valley College earn a median of $49,263 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music education from Lebanon Valley College
Marywood University came in at #24 for music education this year. Located in the city of Scranton, Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 12 music education degrees were awarded at Marywood University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Marywood University generally make around $41,848. Marywood University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the music education program at Marywood University
Suny College At Potsdam placed #25 among the best music education schools. Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Potsdam. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. Suny College At Potsdam awarded about 109 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music education degree from Suny College At Potsdam earn around $47,071 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the music education program at Suny College At Potsdam
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong music education education:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 65 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
