General Music 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.
College Factual analyzed 1155 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best general music schools.
Earn the music business degree that fits into the business world – and partners Southern New Hampshire University with world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
The general music program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for General Music rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best General Music Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this 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.
Best Schools for General Music in the United States
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 general music degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Dartmouth College, our #1 school for general music. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Dartmouth College graduates 96% of students within six years. Dartmouth College awarded about 15 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Dartmouth College generally make around $81,992. Students borrow a median of $16,989 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general music from Dartmouth College
University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general music, landing the #2 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. About 77% of students finish within six years. University Of St Thomas Minnesota awarded about 16 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general music program make about $65,183 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,923.
See the full general music program report for University Of St Thomas Minnesota
Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general music, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 general music degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general music degree from Stanford University earn around $100,827 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
See the full general music program report for Stanford University
Case Western Reserve University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general music, ranking #4. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Case Western Reserve University graduates 87% of students within six years. About 15 general music degrees were awarded at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $74,459. Typical student debt for the program is $25,106.
Get the full general music details for Case Western Reserve University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general music, ranking #5. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 27 general music degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the general music program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #6 among the best general music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 general music students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $32,880 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
See the full general music program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
San Jose State University landed the #7 spot for general music this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 16 general music degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the general music program at San Jose State University
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #8 spot for general music this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 34 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general music program make about $45,488 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,501.
More information about a degree in general music from University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of Utah earned the #9 position for general music this year. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 72 general music degrees were awarded at University Of Utah in the most recent year. Graduates of the general music program make about $42,548 in their early career. University Of Utah graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
See the full general music program report for University Of Utah
University Of Florida landed the #10 spot for general music this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 85 general music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $22,559. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans.
Read more about the general music program at University Of Florida
Northwestern University landed the #11 spot for general music this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 20 general music degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. General Music graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $28,057 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $18,166 in student loans.
Read more about the general music program at Northwestern University
The College Of New Jersey earned the #12 position for general music this year. Set in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 general music students who graduated with this degree at The College Of New Jersey in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from The College Of New Jersey generally make around $56,617. Students borrow a median of $24,429 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general music from The College Of New Jersey
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #13 spot for general music this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 30 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. Typical student debt for the program is $18,131.
More information about a degree in general music from University Of Virginia Main Campus
Brown University came in at #14 for general music this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Brown University awarded about 12 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from Brown University earn around $62,820 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,025 to complete this degree.
See the full general music program report for Brown University
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #15 spot for general music this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 57 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general music program make about $52,541 in their early career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $21,614 in student loans.
Get the full general music details for University Of Maryland College Park
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #16 spot for general music this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 57 general music students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in general music from West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
Sonoma State University earned the #17 position for general music this year. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 22 general music students who graduated with this degree at Sonoma State University in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of Sonoma State University earn a median of $51,140 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,031 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general music program at Sonoma State University
University Of Houston landed the #18 spot for general music this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Houston. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 82 general music degrees were awarded at University Of Houston in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $52,799. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Get the full general music details for University Of Houston
Illinois State University came in at #19 for general music this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 general music students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from Illinois State University earn around $35,863 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
Get the full general music details for Illinois State University
University Of Mississippi Main Campus landed the #20 spot for general music this year. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 36 general music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn around $38,029 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,250.
See the full general music program report for University Of Mississippi Main Campus
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #21 position for general music this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 69 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general music program make about $35,939 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general music program at University Of Missouri Columbia
Rowan University earned the #22 position for general music this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glassboro. Rowan University graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 general music students who graduated with this degree at Rowan University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general music program make about $32,781 in their early career. Rowan University graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans.
Read more about the general music program at Rowan University
University Of California Davis placed #23 among the best general music schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. About 26 general music degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Graduates of the general music program make about $24,630 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
See the full general music program report for University Of California Davis
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best general music schools. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 general music students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $36,818. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full general music details for Rutgers University New Brunswick
University Of Vermont earned the #25 position for general music this year. This large public university is located in the city of Burlington. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. About 23 general music degrees were awarded at University Of Vermont in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of Vermont generally make around $44,588. University Of Vermont graduates carry a median of $22,607 in student loans.
Get the full general music details for University Of Vermont
Rest of the Top 50 General Music Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general music 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 · 1155 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).
