by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2025, College Factual analyzed 21 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Music Master's Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 611 master's degrees in music to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
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.
Your choice of music for getting your master's degree school matters. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
The overall quality of a master's degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To account for this we consider a school's overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking which itself looks at a host of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for music students working on their master's degree.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Music Master's Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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.
Learn about the top ranked colleges and universities for music students seeking a a master's degree.
Texas Christian University is one of the best schools in the country for getting a master's degree in music. TCU is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Fort Worth.More information about a master’s in music from Texas Christian University
It's hard to beat The University of Texas at Austin if you wish to pursue a master's degree in music. UT Austin is a fairly large public university located in the city of Austin.
After graduating, music master's recipients usually make around $27,179 in their early careers.
More information about a master’s in music from The University of Texas at Austin
Southern Methodist University is a good option for individuals pursuing a master's degree in music. SMU is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Dallas.
Students who graduate with their master's from the music program state that they receive average early career income of $29,456.
More information about a master’s in music from Southern Methodist University
It's hard to beat Sam Houston State University if you want to pursue a master's degree in music. SHSU is a very large public university located in the distant town of Huntsville.More information about a master’s in music from Sam Houston State University
Located in the city of Waco, Baylor is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in music from Baylor University
Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Master's graduates who receive their degree from the music program make around $29,235 for their early career.
More information about a master’s in music from Texas Tech University
UNT is a fairly large public university located in the midsize city of Denton.
Master's recipients from the music program at University of North Texas get $2,621 more than the typical graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a master’s in music from University of North Texas
Located in the midsize city of Tempe, ASU - Tempe is a public university with a fairly large student population.
After graduating, music master's recipients generally make about $28,187 in their early careers.
More information about a master’s in music from Arizona State University - Tempe
University of Arizona is a very large public university located in the city of Tucson.
Master's recipients from the music major at University of Arizona earn $11,296 more than the average graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a master’s in music from University of Arizona
UH is a very large public university located in the city of Houston.More information about a master’s in music from University of Houston
Explore the best music colleges for a specific state in the Southwest Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 235 | 434 |
| Arizona | 180 | 88 |
| Oklahoma | 153 | 93 |
| New Mexico | 114 | 21 |
One of 10 majors within the Visual & Performing Arts area of study, Music has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Music | 313 |
| Music Performance | 170 |
| Stringed Instruments | 28 |
| Jazz Studies | 17 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 16 |
| Voice Performance | 14 |
| Music Pedagogy | 12 |
| Conducting | 11 |
| Music Theory & Composition | 9 |
| Woodwind Instruments | 9 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fine & Studio Arts | 209 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 123 |
| Design & Applied Arts | 93 |
| Dance | 42 |
| Arts & Media Management | 34 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 23 |
| Other Visual Art | 11 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 2 |
