General Music is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1155 schools to find the best for general music students.
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Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general music. 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. There were roughly 14 general music students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best general music schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 27 general music degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in general music from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
A rank of #3 makes University Of Florida one of the top schools for general music. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. About 19 general music degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. General Music graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $22,559 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree.
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University Of Utah is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general music, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 general music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Utah in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general music program make about $42,548 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
More information about a degree in general music from University Of Utah
A rank of #5 makes California State University Northridge one of the top schools for general music. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 46 general music students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $37,985 early in their careers. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $15,933 in student loans.
Read more about the general music program at California State University Northridge
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #6 position for general music this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 general music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $39,616 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $21,614 in student loans.
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University Of Houston ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best general music schools. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 general music degrees were awarded at University Of Houston in the most recent year. Students who receive their general music degree from University Of Houston earn around $52,799 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general music program at University Of Houston
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #8 among the best general music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 20 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $31,551. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best general music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. About 89% of students finish within six years. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 34 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $27,179 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Montclair State University landed the #10 spot for general music this year. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. Montclair State University graduates 65% of students within six years. Montclair State University awarded about 22 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from Montclair State University earn around $54,350 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full general music program report for Montclair State University
University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned the #11 position for general music this year. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 general music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn a median of $38,029 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general music program at University Of Mississippi Main Campus
Boston University landed the #12 spot for general music this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 general music students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from Boston University earn around $30,982 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,957.
More information about a degree in general music from Boston University
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #13 position for general music this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 27 general music degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. General Music graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $35,939 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general music program at University Of Missouri Columbia
The University Of Tennessee landed the #14 spot for general music this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 27 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $34,198 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,453 to complete this degree.
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Washington State University placed #15 among the best general music schools. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 general music students who graduated with this degree at Washington State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from Washington State University earn around $54,697 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,503.
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Central Washington University landed the #16 spot for general music this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Ellensburg. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 44 general music degrees were awarded at Central Washington University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general music degree from Central Washington University earn around $71,579 in the first couple years of their career. Central Washington University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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University Of Central Florida came in at #17 for general music this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. University Of Central Florida awarded about 18 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from University Of Central Florida earn around $21,957 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,567 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general music from University Of Central Florida
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #18 for general music this year. 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. There were roughly 15 general music students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $35,209. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full general music program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
Kansas State University placed #19 among the best general music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Manhattan. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. About 16 general music degrees were awarded at Kansas State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general music degree from Kansas State University earn around $51,543 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,546 to complete this degree.
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Illinois State University landed the #20 spot for general music this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Illinois State University awarded about 13 general music degrees in the most recent data year. General Music graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $38,873 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general music from Illinois State University
University Of Arizona ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best general music schools. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Arizona awarded about 20 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from University Of Arizona earn around $43,021 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Arizona graduates carry a median of $14,800 in student loans.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #22 spot for general music this year. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 21 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn around $30,429 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #23 for general music this year. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 51 general music degrees were awarded at Colorado State University Fort Collins in the most recent year. General Music graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $54,680 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,837.
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Florida International University placed #24 among the best general music schools. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Florida International University awarded about 23 general music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general music degree from Florida International University earn around $29,478 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,882.
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University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #25 position for general music this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 general music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general music degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $48,098. Typical student debt for the program is $25,373.
See the full general music program report for University Of Nebraska Lincoln
Rest of the Top 50 General Music Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general music this year:
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 · 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).
