Music Performance 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 509 schools to find the best for music performance students.
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 school you choose for music performance can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Music Performance Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Music Performance School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that 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 Music Performance Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the 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.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best music performance schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 13 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
Read more about the music performance program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music performance, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $32,880 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
See the full music performance program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Students looking for a strong music performance program will find one at San Jose State University, which ranked #3. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 27 music performance degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
Get the full music performance details for San Jose State University
Northwestern University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 50 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $28,057 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,166.
Get the full music performance details for Northwestern University
Students looking for a strong music performance program will find one at University Of Maryland College Park, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 music performance degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $52,541. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $21,614 in student loans.
See the full music performance program report for University Of Maryland College Park
James Madison University earned the #6 position for music performance this year. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. About 80% of students finish within six years. James Madison University awarded about 83 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $36,106. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $20,968 in student loans.
Read more about the music performance program at James Madison University
University Of Houston came in at #7 for music performance this year. 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. There were roughly 21 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance 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.
See the full music performance program report for University Of Houston
Illinois State University came in at #8 for music performance this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 20 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Illinois State University earn around $35,863 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Get the full music performance details for Illinois State University
Texas Christian University earned the #9 position for music performance this year. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Texas Christian University in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $60,035 early in their careers. Texas Christian University graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans.
See the full music performance program report for Texas Christian University
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #10 position for music performance this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 63 music performance degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn around $36,818 in the first couple years of their career. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Get the full music performance details for Rutgers University New Brunswick
Suny At Binghamton came in at #11 for music performance this year. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of $51,766 early in their careers. Suny At Binghamton graduates carry a median of $20,691 in student loans.
See the full music performance program report for Suny At Binghamton
New York University placed #12 among the best music performance schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 127 music performance degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $28,287 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music performance program at New York University
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #13 spot for music performance this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 21 music performance degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $33,937 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full music performance program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
Yale University earned the #14 position for music performance this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 29 music performance degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $21,250 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
Read more about the music performance program at Yale University
Butler University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. There were roughly 10 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Butler University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $68,222 in their early career. Butler University graduates carry a median of $24,170 in student loans.
See the full music performance program report for Butler University
University Of California Irvine landed the #16 spot for music performance this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Irvine. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $50,958 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music performance from University Of California Irvine
Messiah College came in at #17 for music performance this year. Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 40 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Messiah College in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Messiah College earn a median of $66,109 early in their careers. Messiah College graduates carry a median of $25,965 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music performance from Messiah College
George Mason University placed #18 among the best music performance schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 35 music performance students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $34,841 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,048 to complete this degree.
See the full music performance program report for George Mason University
Boston University came in at #19 for music performance 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 102 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Boston University earn a median of $30,982 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,957 to complete this degree.
Get the full music performance details for Boston University
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earned the #20 position for music performance this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates 69% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte awarded about 18 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $38,831 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates carry a median of $25,858 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music performance from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #21 spot for music performance this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 149 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $29,641 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,397 to complete this degree.
See the full music performance program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
California State University Northridge came in at #22 for music performance this year. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. California State University Northridge awarded about 85 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from California State University Northridge earn around $28,106 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,933.
Read more about the music performance program at California State University Northridge
University Of California Los Angeles placed #23 among the best music performance schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 40 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $18,823. Typical student debt for the program is $23,119.
See the full music performance program report for University Of California Los Angeles
Oregon State University earned the #24 position for music performance this year. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. Oregon State University graduates 70% of students within six years. Oregon State University awarded about 13 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $29,630. Typical student debt for the program is $19,184.
More information about a degree in music performance from Oregon State University
Lawrence University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Located in the city of Appleton, Lawrence University is a small private not-for-profit university. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 39 music performance degrees were awarded at Lawrence University in the most recent year. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
More information about a degree in music performance from Lawrence University
Rest of the Top 50 Music Performance Schools
These schools also placed among the best for music performance this year:
This ranking is produced 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 · 509 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).
