by our College Data Analytics TeamMusic Performance degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their music performance programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 55 schools to find the best for music performance students.
What’s on this page:
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Earn the music business degree that fits into the business world – and partners Southern New Hampshire University with world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
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 music performance degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is San Jose State University, our #1 school for music performance. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 27 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Get the full music performance details for San Jose State University
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Irvine one of the top schools for music performance. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. University Of California Irvine awarded about 11 music performance degrees 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. Typical student debt for the program is $16,539. See the full music performance program report for University Of California Irvine
California State University Northridge came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 85 music performance degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $28,106 in their early career. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $15,933 in student loans. More information about a degree in music performance from California State University Northridge
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish 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. Graduates of the music performance program make about $18,823 in their early career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $23,119 in student loans. Get the full music performance details for University Of California Los Angeles
Oregon State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music performance, ranking #5. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. About 70% of students finish 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
University Of Southern California ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 47 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $23,244 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,976. Get the full music performance details for University Of Southern California
San Diego State University landed the #7 spot for music performance this year. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. About 76% of students finish within six years. San Diego State University awarded about 68 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $20,440 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,131 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music performance from San Diego State University
California State University Sacramento landed the #8 spot for music performance this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Sacramento awarded about 34 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $25,391 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500. Get the full music performance details for California State University Sacramento
California State University Fullerton earned the #9 position for music performance this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 59 music performance students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $23,969. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $20,469 in student loans. Read more about the music performance program at California State University Fullerton
University Of California Santa Cruz ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $40,920 in their early career. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates carry a median of $18,559 in student loans. Read more about the music performance program at University Of California Santa Cruz
University Of Oregon landed the #11 spot for music performance this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Eugene. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 35 music performance degrees were awarded at University Of Oregon in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of Oregon generally make around $20,707. University Of Oregon graduates carry a median of $20,583 in student loans. More information about a degree in music performance from University Of Oregon
San Francisco State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 17 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $31,621 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000. More information about a degree in music performance from San Francisco State University
California State University Long Beach earned the #13 position for music performance this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 104 music performance degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $21,916 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,550 to complete this degree. See the full music performance program report for California State University Long Beach
California State University Los Angeles placed #14 among the best music performance schools. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 48 music performance students who graduated with this degree at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $21,509 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,500. Read more about the music performance program at California State University Los Angeles
Portland State University earned the #15 position for music performance this year. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 music performance degrees were awarded at Portland State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $17,638 in their early career. Portland State University graduates carry a median of $27,846 in student loans. More information about a degree in music performance from Portland State University
Musicians Institute landed the #16 spot for music performance this year. Located in the city of Hollywood, Musicians Institute is a small private for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. Musicians Institute awarded about 181 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Get the full music performance details for Musicians Institute
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 · 55 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
