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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Music Education Schools in New York

13 Colleges in the United States
536 Music Education Degrees Awarded
$57,778 Avg Early-Career Salary

Music Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 schools to find the best for music education students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Music Education in New York

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.

Top Schools in Music Education

1
Cuny Hunter College crest
Cuny Hunter College
New York, NY

Cuny Hunter College tops our 2026 ranking of the best music education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. About 22 music education degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent year. Graduates of the music education program make about $61,604 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music education from Cuny Hunter College

2

Cuny Brooklyn College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music education, ranking #2. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 13 music education degrees were awarded at Cuny Brooklyn College in the most recent year. Students who receive their music education degree from Cuny Brooklyn College earn around $61,164 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,178. Read more about the music education program at Cuny Brooklyn College

3

Cuny Queens College came in at #3 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. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Cuny Queens College awarded about 57 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music education program make about $67,212 in their early career. Cuny Queens College graduates carry a median of $16,000 in student loans. Read more about the music education program at Cuny Queens College

4
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

New York University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music education, ranking #4. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. New York University awarded about 42 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from New York University generally make around $56,866. Students borrow a median of $25,403 to complete this degree. Get the full music education details for New York University

5
Hofstra University crest
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY

Hofstra University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music education, ranking #5. Set in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 17 music education degrees were awarded at Hofstra University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $52,451. Typical student debt for the program is $23,517. Read more about the music education program at Hofstra University

6

University Of Rochester landed the #6 spot for music education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Rochester. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 music education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rochester in the most recent data year. Music Education graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $53,127 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,517 to complete this degree. See the full music education program report for University Of Rochester

7

Teachers College At Columbia University came in at #7 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. Teachers College At Columbia University awarded about 91 music education degrees in the most recent data 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

8
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University earned the #8 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%. About 11 music education degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Music Education graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $53,557 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,664 to complete this degree. See the full music education program report for Syracuse University

9
Ithaca College crest
Ithaca College
Ithaca, NY

Ithaca College placed #9 among the best music education schools. Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ithaca. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 music education students who graduated with this degree at Ithaca College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Ithaca College generally make around $53,562. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the music education program at Ithaca College

10

Cuny Lehman College placed #10 among the best music education schools. This large public university is located in the city of Bronx. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 music education students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Lehman College 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. Read more about the music education program at Cuny Lehman College

11

University At Buffalo earned the #11 position for music education this year. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. University At Buffalo graduates 75% of students within six years. University At Buffalo awarded about 11 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $50,041. Typical student debt for the program is $22,232. Read more about the music education program at University At Buffalo

12

Suny College At Potsdam placed #12 among the best music education schools. Located in the town of Potsdam, Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. Suny College At Potsdam awarded about 109 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Music Education graduates of Suny College At Potsdam earn a median of $47,071 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full music education program report for Suny College At Potsdam

13
Nazareth College crest
Nazareth College
Rochester, NY

Nazareth College came in at #13 for music education this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Nazareth College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Nazareth College graduates 73% of students within six years. About 27 music education degrees were awarded at Nazareth College in the most recent year. Graduates of the music education program make about $51,360 in their early career. Nazareth College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in music education from Nazareth College

14
Suny At Fredonia crest
Suny At Fredonia
Fredonia, NY

Suny At Fredonia ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best music education schools. Located in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public university. Suny At Fredonia graduates 50% of students within six years. Suny At Fredonia awarded about 61 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music education degree from Suny At Fredonia earn around $41,456 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full music education program report for Suny At Fredonia

15

Suny College At Buffalo earned the #15 position for music education this year. Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Buffalo. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. Suny College At Buffalo awarded about 17 music education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music education degree recipients from Suny College At Buffalo generally make around $43,844. Suny College At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in music education from Suny College At Buffalo

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Notes and References

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 · 27 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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