Conducting is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 72 schools to find the best for conducting students.
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The school you choose for conducting can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Conducting rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Conducting Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Earn the music business degree that fits into the business world – and partners Southern New Hampshire University with world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
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 conducting degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than Michigan State University this year for conducting. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 conducting students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the conducting program make about $40,570 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,750.
Get the full conducting details for Michigan State University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in conducting, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 10 conducting degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, conducting degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $22,533. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,946 in student loans.
See the full conducting program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 72 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
