by our College Data Analytics TeamMusic Performance is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their music performance programs.
College Factual analyzed 509 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best music performance schools.
What’s on this page:
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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Below are the best music performance schools at the master’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best music performance schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 12 music performance degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. See the full music performance program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
California State University Northridge came in at #2 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. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 30 music performance degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $37,985. Students borrow a median of $15,933 to complete this degree. Get the full music performance details for California State University Northridge
Suny At Binghamton came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 10 music performance degrees were awarded at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $51,766. Students borrow a median of $20,691 to complete this degree. See the full music performance program report for Suny At Binghamton
New York University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music performance, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 47 music performance degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of New York University earn a median of $32,175 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. See the full music performance program report for New York University
A rank of #5 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the top schools for music performance. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 26 music performance degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $39,616 in their early career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $21,614 in student loans. Read more about the music performance program at University Of Maryland College Park
University Of Houston landed the #6 spot for music performance this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Houston awarded about 21 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $52,799 in their early career. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Read more about the music performance program at University Of Houston
Messiah College landed the #7 spot for music performance this year. Set in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Messiah College awarded about 28 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Messiah College earn around $66,109 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,965 to complete this degree. Read more about the music performance program at Messiah College
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #8 for music performance this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 music performance students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $27,179. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Get the full music performance details for The University Of Texas At Austin
Montclair State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 23 music performance degrees were awarded at Montclair State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Montclair State University generally make around $54,350. Montclair State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in music performance from Montclair State University
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #10 spot for music performance this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 17 music performance degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $31,552 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. See the full music performance program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Northwestern University placed #11 among the best music performance schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 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 $21,290 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,166. More information about a degree in music performance from Northwestern University
Yale University landed the #12 spot for music performance this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 29 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Yale University earn around $21,250 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree. Read more about the music performance program at Yale University
Boston University earned the #13 position for music performance this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 59 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $30,982. Typical student debt for the program is $26,957. Read more about the music performance program at Boston University
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #14 for music performance this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New Brunswick. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn around $36,928 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick
University Of Central Florida ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. University Of Central Florida awarded about 51 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $21,957 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,567 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music performance from University Of Central Florida
University Of Miami ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. University Of Miami graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Miami in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music performance degree from University Of Miami earn around $25,623 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $13,998 in student loans. Get the full music performance details for University Of Miami
Michigan State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 music performance degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Michigan State University earn around $42,484 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,750. Read more about the music performance program at Michigan State University
Bard College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Annandale-On-Hudson. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 23 music performance degrees were awarded at Bard College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Bard College generally make around $30,660. Bard College graduates carry a median of $26,402 in student loans. See the full music performance program report for Bard College
Johns Hopkins University earned the #19 position for music performance this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 101 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $30,761. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. See the full music performance program report for Johns Hopkins University
Illinois State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 20 music performance degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $38,873 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500. Read more about the music performance program at Illinois State University
University Of Arizona ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tucson. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 music performance degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from University Of Arizona earn around $43,021 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,800. See the full music performance program report for University Of Arizona
University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #22 position for music performance this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 32 music performance degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $30,429 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the music performance program at University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #23 for music performance this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 music performance degrees were awarded at Brigham Young University Provo in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $22,625 early in their careers. Brigham Young University Provo graduates carry a median of $10,460 in student loans. More information about a degree in music performance from Brigham Young University Provo
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #24 spot for music performance this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 60 music performance degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $16,971. Typical student debt for the program is $19,397. Read more about the music performance program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
San Diego State University placed #25 among the best music performance schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 music performance degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $20,440 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,131 to complete this degree. See the full music performance program report for San Diego State University
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s music performance ranking:
These schools also stood out for music performance:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| #55 | University Of Rochester | Rochester, NY |
Also worth considering for music performance:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Music Performance rankings across degree levels:
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 · 509 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
