DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/general-music/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/general-music/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/general-music/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/general-music/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/general-music/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/general-music/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/general-music/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 1
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 50.09), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "MBA in Music Business" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "MBA in Music Business" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 1
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 0 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No ESYOH offers, checking direct offers
ADVERTISEMENTS
Featured General Music Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
MBA in Music Business
Earn the music business degree that fits into the business world – and partners Southern New Hampshire University with world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
Learn More
Best Schools for General Music in Illinois
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.
Top Schools in General Music
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 school for general music. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 20 general music degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $28,057. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $18,166 in student loans.
Get the full general music details for Northwestern University
A rank of #2 makes Illinois State University one of the top schools for general music. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. 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. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $35,863. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Read more about the general music program at Illinois State University
Northeastern Illinois University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general music, ranking #3. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. Northeastern Illinois University awarded about 18 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $49,254. Students borrow a median of $17,600 to complete this degree.
Get the full general music details for Northeastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general music schools. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. Eastern Illinois University graduates 47% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 general music students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $37,163 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,300 to complete this degree.
See the full general music program report for Eastern Illinois University
A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for general music. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 91 general music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $25,536 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,625 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general music from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #6 among the best general music schools. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 17 general music students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $34,079. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete this degree.
See the full general music program report for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Western Illinois University earned the #7 position for general music this year. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 general music degrees were awarded at Western Illinois University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $32,666. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general music program at Western Illinois University
Columbia College Chicago ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best general music schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. 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.
Get the full general music details for Columbia College Chicago
Notes and References
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 · 60 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
ADBLOCK #116
