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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Music Performance Schools in the Southwest Region

18 Colleges in the United States
555 Music Performance Degrees Awarded
$34,915 Avg Early-Career Salary

Music 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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 54 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for music performance students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Music Performance in the Southwest 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 University Of Houston, our #1 school for music performance. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. University Of Houston awarded about 21 music performance degrees 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. More information about a degree in music performance from University Of Houston

2

Texas Christian University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music performance, ranking #2. 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. Students who receive their music performance degree from Texas Christian University earn around $60,035 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,500. More information about a degree in music performance from Texas Christian University

3

Students looking for a strong music performance program will find one at The University Of Texas At Austin, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 21 music performance degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $33,937. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. See the full music performance program report for The University Of Texas At Austin

4

A rank of #4 makes The University Of Texas At Arlington one of the top schools for music performance. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 12 music performance students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Arlington in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of $37,020 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,911. Get the full music performance details for The University Of Texas At Arlington

5

Students looking for a strong music performance program will find one at Southern Methodist University, which ranked #5. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Southern Methodist University graduates 84% of students within six years. Southern Methodist University awarded about 28 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $26,308 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,417. Read more about the music performance program at Southern Methodist University

6

Texas State University San Marcos placed #6 among the best music performance schools. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 music performance degrees were awarded at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $39,318 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,241 to complete this degree. Read more about the music performance program at Texas State University San Marcos

7

University Of North Texas earned the #7 position for music performance this year. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. University Of North Texas graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 131 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Texas in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $36,763 early in their careers. University Of North Texas graduates carry a median of $24,456 in student loans. Get the full music performance details for University Of North Texas

8

University Of Arizona ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. University Of Arizona awarded about 12 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $30,157. Students borrow a median of $14,800 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music performance from University Of Arizona

9

Arizona State University placed #9 among the best music performance schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 84 music performance degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Music Performance graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $26,653 early in their careers. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $21,504 in student loans. Get the full music performance details for Arizona State University

10

University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earned the #10 position for music performance this year. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $17,665 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,639 to complete this degree. Read more about the music performance program at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus

11

Northern Arizona University earned the #11 position for music performance this year. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. Northern Arizona University graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Northern Arizona University in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $47,056 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,645. More information about a degree in music performance from Northern Arizona University

12

Chandler Gilbert Community College came in at #12 for music performance this year. Set in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 11 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Chandler Gilbert Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $46,943 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,447. See the full music performance program report for Chandler Gilbert Community College

13

Baylor University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Baylor University awarded about 43 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from Baylor University generally make around $10,210. Baylor University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full music performance details for Baylor University

14
Oklahoma City University crest
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City University came in at #14 for music performance this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Oklahoma City. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 61 music performance students who graduated with this degree at Oklahoma City University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $22,203 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,456. Get the full music performance details for Oklahoma City University

15

University Of Central Oklahoma ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best music performance schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edmond. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 music performance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Oklahoma in the most recent data year. Music Performance graduates of University Of Central Oklahoma earn a median of $25,548 early in their careers. University Of Central Oklahoma graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. See the full music performance program report for University Of Central Oklahoma

16

University Of New Mexico Main Campus placed #16 among the best music performance schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. University Of New Mexico Main Campus awarded about 33 music performance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music performance degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $49,983. Typical student debt for the program is $19,738. See the full music performance program report for University Of New Mexico Main Campus

17
South Plains College crest
South Plains College
Levelland, TX

South Plains College earned the #17 position for music performance this year. South Plains College is a large public school located in the town of Levelland. There were roughly 30 music performance students who graduated with this degree at South Plains College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music performance program make about $30,949 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,788 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in music performance from South Plains College

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Notes and References

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 · 54 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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