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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best General Music Schools in the Great Lakes Region

45 Colleges in the United States
624 General Music Degrees Awarded
$36,112 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Music programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general music programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 175 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general music students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for General Music in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general music education in the Great Lakes Region.

Top Schools in General Music

1

Leading the list is Case Western Reserve University, our #1 school for general music. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cleveland. About 87% of students finish 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. Case Western Reserve University graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. See the full general music program report for Case Western Reserve University

2

Northwestern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general music, landing the #2 spot this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 general music degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general music degree from Northwestern University earn around $28,057 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,166. More information about a degree in general music from Northwestern University

3

A rank of #3 makes Illinois State University one of the top schools for general music. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 27 general music students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general music program make about $35,863 in their early career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Get the full general music details for Illinois State University

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire one of the top schools for general music. Set in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 47 general music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of $43,764 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,637. More information about a degree in general music from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire

5

Students looking for a strong general music program will find one at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 14 general music degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. General Music graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $31,552 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree. Get the full general music details for University Of Wisconsin Madison

6

Ohio State University Main Campus placed #6 among the best general music schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 88% of students finish within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 45 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general music program make about $35,209 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full general music program report for Ohio State University Main Campus

7

Ball State University earned the #7 position for general music this year. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 general music students who graduated with this degree at Ball State University in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $47,863 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,518 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general music from Ball State University

8

Northeastern Illinois University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best general music schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Northeastern Illinois University graduates 22% of students within six years. About 18 general music degrees were awarded at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general music program make about $49,254 in their early career. Northeastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $17,600 in student loans. More information about a degree in general music from Northeastern Illinois University

9

Eastern Illinois University earned the #9 position for general music this year. This large public university is located in the town of Charleston. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 general music degrees were awarded at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent year. General Music graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $37,163 early in their careers. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $26,300 in student loans. See the full general music program report for Eastern Illinois University

10

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #10 position for general music this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 91 general music degrees in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $25,536 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,625. Get the full general music details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

11

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general music schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 general music students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general music program make about $34,079 in their early career. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Get the full general music details for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

12

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #12 among the best general music schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. About 10 general music degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the general music program make about $22,533 in their early career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,946 in student loans. Read more about the general music program at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

13

University Of Wisconsin Whitewater placed #13 among the best general music schools. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 26 general music degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $31,134. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in general music from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater

14

University Of Wisconsin Platteville earned the #14 position for general music this year. University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Platteville. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 general music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Platteville in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general music program make about $56,998 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,677 to complete this degree. Get the full general music details for University Of Wisconsin Platteville

15

Miami University Oxford came in at #15 for general music this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 10 general music degrees were awarded at Miami University Oxford in the most recent year. Graduates of the general music program make about $19,353 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full general music details for Miami University Oxford

16

Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #16 for general music this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 11 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $27,559. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in general music from Bowling Green State University Main Campus

17

Grand Valley State University landed the #17 spot for general music this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Allendale. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 general music students who graduated with this degree at Grand Valley State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general music program make about $34,882 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,198 to complete this degree. Get the full general music details for Grand Valley State University

18

Western Illinois University earned the #18 position for general music this year. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. About 45% of students finish within six years. About 18 general music degrees were awarded at Western Illinois University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general music program make about $32,666 in their early career. Western Illinois University graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans. Read more about the general music program at Western Illinois University

19

Wayne State University placed #19 among the best general music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Detroit. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 32 general music degrees were awarded at Wayne State University in the most recent year. General Music graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $32,911 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. See the full general music program report for Wayne State University

20

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #20 among the best general music schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 49 general music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $27,478 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete this degree. Get the full general music details for University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee

21

Columbia College Chicago landed the #21 spot for general music this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 52% of students finish within six years. Columbia College Chicago awarded about 35 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $19,943. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in general music from Columbia College Chicago

22

Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne placed #22 among the best general music schools. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public school located in the city of Fort Wayne. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne graduates 36% of students within six years. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne awarded about 29 general music degrees in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earn a median of $49,424 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,119 to complete this degree. Get the full general music details for Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne

23

Cleveland State University landed the #23 spot for general music this year. This large public university is located in the city of Cleveland. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 18 general music degrees were awarded at Cleveland State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $32,887. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete this degree. Get the full general music details for Cleveland State University

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 175 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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