by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Music Performance explores Music Performance, General. A Program That Generally Prepares Individuals To Master Musical Instruments And Performing Art As Solo And/or Ensemble Performers. Includes Instruction On One Or More Specific Instruments From Various Instrumental Groupings. Continue reading for the essential details every music performance student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering music performance programs.
Across the country, music performance is a popular field of study, with 7,193 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Music Performance Schools ranking analyzes these 370 schools to determine the best overall colleges for music performance students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of music performance programs later in this article.
Programs in Music Performance develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations music performance graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a music performance program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a music performance major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several music performance degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 88 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 196 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,937 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,481 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 491 |
People currently working in careers related to music performance tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 46.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 29.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.4% |
| Some college courses | 1.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in music performance careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in music performance opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to music performance.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to music performance.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Music Directors and Composers | 180,947 | 6.4% |
| Musicians and Singers | 44,568 | 7.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of music performance graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $29,248 |
| 4 years | $35,586 |
| 5 years | $40,828 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for music performance graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers music performance grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Musicians and Singers | $96,571 |
| Music Directors and Composers | $66,915 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 370 different music performance programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased music performance school rankings to help you.
Students interested in music performance, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music, General | 10,690 |
| Music Technology | 1,938 |
| Music Theory and Composition | 1,336 |
| Music, Other | 1,141 |
| Voice and Opera | 668 |
| Stringed Instruments | 589 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 534 |
| Jazz/Jazz Studies | 523 |
| Music Pedagogy | 385 |
| Conducting | 180 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
