2026 Best Music Performance Schools in the Great Lakes Region

1

Northwestern University
Evanston, IL

Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the best school in the country for a degree in music performance. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Northwestern University awarded about 50 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $28,057 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,166 to complete this degree. See the full music performance program report for Northwestern University

2

Illinois State University
Normal, IL

Illinois State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music performance, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Illinois State University awarded about 20 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $35,863 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500. Read more about the music performance program at Illinois State University

3

Butler University
Indianapolis, IN

Butler University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music performance, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. Butler University awarded about 10 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Butler University earn a median of $68,222 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,170 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music performance from Butler University

4

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music performance, ranking #4. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 149 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $29,641 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,397. Get the full music performance details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

5

Lawrence University
Appleton, WI

A rank of #5 makes Lawrence University one of the top schools for music performance. Lawrence University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Appleton. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 39 music performance degrees were awarded at Lawrence University in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree. See the full music performance program report for Lawrence University

6

University Of Wisconsin Madison
Madison, WI

University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 music performance degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $31,552. Typical student debt for the program is $21,813. Get the full music performance details for University Of Wisconsin Madison

7

Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. There were roughly 86 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $40,570 in their early career. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Read more about the music performance program at Michigan State University

8

Indiana University Bloomington
Bloomington, IN

Indiana University Bloomington placed #8 among the best music performance schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 339 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $28,328. Students borrow a median of $20,769 to complete this degree. Get the full music performance details for Indiana University Bloomington

9

Wheaton College Illinois
Wheaton, IL

Wheaton College Illinois placed #9 among the best music performance schools. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. Wheaton College Illinois graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $26,540. Wheaton College Illinois graduates carry a median of $24,556 in student loans. Get the full music performance details for Wheaton College Illinois

10

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Champaign, IL

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #10 position for music performance this year. 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. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 13 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $25,536 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans. Get the full music performance details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

11

Ohio University Main Campus
Athens, OH

Ohio University Main Campus came in at #11 for music performance this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. About 22 music performance degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Ohio University Main Campus earn around $34,193 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the music performance program at Ohio University Main Campus

12

Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University came in at #12 for music performance this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Depaul University awarded about 61 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $22,885 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,334 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music performance from Depaul University

13

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Cincinnati, OH

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #13 among the best music performance schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. About 154 music performance degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $22,533 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,946. Get the full music performance details for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

14

Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI

Western Michigan University placed #14 among the best music performance schools. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 27 music performance degrees were awarded at Western Michigan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $27,361. Western Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the music performance program at Western Michigan University

15

Miami University Oxford
Oxford, OH

Miami University Oxford placed #15 among the best music performance schools. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $19,353 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the music performance program at Miami University Oxford

16

Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Bowling Green, OH

Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 50 music performance degrees were awarded at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $27,559 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full music performance program report for Bowling Green State University Main Campus

17

Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL

Northern Illinois University landed the #17 spot for music performance this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Dekalb. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 62 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $41,632 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music performance from Northern Illinois University

18

Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL

Western Illinois University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. About 32 music performance degrees were awarded at Western Illinois University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $32,666 in their early career. Western Illinois University graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans. Read more about the music performance program at Western Illinois University

19

Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH

Youngstown State University earned the #19 position for music performance this year. This large public university is located in the city of Youngstown. Youngstown State University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 26 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Youngstown State University in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $34,657 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,373. See the full music performance program report for Youngstown State University

20

Baldwin Wallace College
Berea, OH

Baldwin Wallace College earned the #20 position for music performance this year. Set in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 18 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Baldwin Wallace College in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Baldwin Wallace College earn a median of $46,668 early in their careers. Baldwin Wallace College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full music performance details for Baldwin Wallace College

21

Kent State University At Kent
Kent, OH

Kent State University At Kent landed the #21 spot for music performance this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Kent State University At Kent graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $24,340 in their early career. Kent State University At Kent graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Read more about the music performance program at Kent State University At Kent

22

Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH

Oberlin College earned the #22 position for music performance this year. Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Oberlin. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 110 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Oberlin College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $17,141 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,200. More information about a degree in music performance from Oberlin College

23

Cleveland Institute Of Music
Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Institute Of Music landed the #23 spot for music performance this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland Institute Of Music is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Cleveland Institute Of Music awarded about 129 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $19,558 in their early career. Cleveland Institute Of Music graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in music performance from Cleveland Institute Of Music