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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Music Performance Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

33 Colleges in the United States
1,233 Music Performance Degrees Awarded
$31,406 Avg Early-Career Salary

Music Performance programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 77 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best music performance schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Music Performance in the Middle Atlantic Region

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.

Top Schools in Music Performance

1

Leading the list is Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, our #1 school for music performance. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Get the full music performance details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus

2

University Of Maryland College Park is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music performance, ranking #2. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. About 26 music performance degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $52,541 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $21,614 in student loans. More information about a degree in music performance from University Of Maryland College Park

3

Rutgers University New Brunswick is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music performance, landing the #3 spot 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. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. Get the full music performance details for Rutgers University New Brunswick

4

Students looking for a strong music performance program will find one at Suny At Binghamton, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Suny At Binghamton awarded about 13 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $51,766. Typical student debt for the program is $20,691. Get the full music performance details for Suny At Binghamton

5
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

Students looking for a strong music performance program will find one at New York University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. New York University awarded about 127 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of New York University earn a median of $28,287 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Get the full music performance details for New York University

6
Messiah College crest
Messiah College
Mechanicsburg, PA

Messiah College landed the #6 spot for music performance this year. Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. Messiah College graduates 75% of students within six years. About 40 music performance degrees were awarded at Messiah College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Messiah College generally make around $66,109. Messiah College graduates carry a median of $25,965 in student loans. See the full music performance program report for Messiah College

7

Montclair State University came in at #7 for music performance this year. Set in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 36 music performance degrees were awarded at Montclair State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $41,164 in their early career. 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

8

Johns Hopkins University landed the #8 spot for music performance this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 200 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 $23,620. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. See the full music performance program report for Johns Hopkins University

9
Ithaca College crest
Ithaca College
Ithaca, NY

Ithaca College placed #9 among the best music performance schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 30 music performance degrees were awarded at Ithaca College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Ithaca College generally make around $23,119. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in music performance from Ithaca College

10
Bard College crest
Bard College
Annandale-On-Hudson, NY

Bard College came in at #10 for music performance this year. Located in the rural area of Annandale-On-Hudson, Bard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 47 music performance degrees were awarded at Bard College in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of Bard College earn a median of $30,660 early in their careers. Bard College graduates carry a median of $26,402 in student loans. Read more about the music performance program at Bard College

11
Temple University crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA

Temple University came in at #11 for music performance this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Temple University graduates 75% of students within six years. About 43 music performance degrees were awarded at Temple University in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of Temple University earn a median of $20,667 early in their careers. Temple University graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in music performance from Temple University

12

Carnegie Mellon University earned the #12 position for music performance this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $23,278 early in their careers. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $24,431 in student loans. See the full music performance program report for Carnegie Mellon University

13
Cuny Hunter College crest
Cuny Hunter College
New York, NY

Cuny Hunter College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. About 57% of students finish within six years. Cuny Hunter College awarded about 14 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $33,384 early in their careers. Cuny Hunter College graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. Get the full music performance details for Cuny Hunter College

14

Lebanon Valley College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Lebanon Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Annville. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 music performance degrees were awarded at Lebanon Valley College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Lebanon Valley College generally make around $49,383. Students borrow a median of $26,846 to complete this degree. Get the full music performance details for Lebanon Valley College

15

Catholic University Of America landed the #15 spot for music performance this year. Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Catholic University Of America graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Catholic University Of America in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $23,856 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,625. See the full music performance program report for Catholic University Of America

16
Duquesne University crest
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA

Duquesne University placed #16 among the best music performance schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Duquesne University graduates 77% of students within six years. About 35 music performance degrees were awarded at Duquesne University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Duquesne University generally make around $27,854. Duquesne University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full music performance program report for Duquesne University

17

Cuny Brooklyn College landed the #17 spot for music performance this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cuny Brooklyn College awarded about 18 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $16,996. Cuny Brooklyn College graduates carry a median of $13,303 in student loans. More information about a degree in music performance from Cuny Brooklyn College

18
The New School crest
The New School
New York, NY

The New School earned the #18 position for music performance this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 70% of students finish within six years. The New School awarded about 71 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from The New School generally make around $15,510. The New School graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. See the full music performance program report for The New School

19

University Of Rochester earned the #19 position for music performance this year. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 202 music performance degrees were awarded at University Of Rochester in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from University Of Rochester earn around $27,409 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,769 to complete this degree. Read more about the music performance program at University Of Rochester

20
Suny At Fredonia crest
Suny At Fredonia
Fredonia, NY

Suny At Fredonia earned the #20 position for music performance this year. Located in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public university. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Fredonia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Suny At Fredonia generally make around $35,849. Suny At Fredonia graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in music performance from Suny At Fredonia

21

Cuny Queens College landed the #21 spot for music performance this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Queens. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Queens College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $27,902 in their early career. Cuny Queens College graduates carry a median of $12,157 in student loans. See the full music performance program report for Cuny Queens College

22
Stony Brook University crest
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 39 music performance degrees were awarded at Stony Brook University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music performance degree from Stony Brook University earn around $34,264 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,537. More information about a degree in music performance from Stony Brook University

23
Curtis Institute Of Music crest
Curtis Institute Of Music
Philadelphia, PA

Curtis Institute Of Music placed #23 among the best music performance schools. Curtis Institute Of Music is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. About 100% of students finish within six years. About 24 music performance degrees were awarded at Curtis Institute Of Music in the most recent year. See the full music performance program report for Curtis Institute Of Music

24

Suny At Purchase College landed the #24 spot for music performance this year. Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Purchase. About 63% of students finish within six years. Suny At Purchase College awarded about 11 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $22,569 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,179. More information about a degree in music performance from Suny At Purchase College

25

New Jersey City University came in at #25 for music performance this year. Set in the city of Jersey City, New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 34% of students finish within six years. About 26 music performance degrees were awarded at New Jersey City University in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of New Jersey City University earn a median of $18,544 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree. See the full music performance program report for New Jersey City University

Rest of the Top 28 Music Performance Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong music performance education:

26
27
28
Five Towns College crest
Five Towns College
Dix Hills, NY

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 77 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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