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Featured Music Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
MBA in Music Business
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 More
Best Schools for Music in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall music education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Music
No school ranked higher than Case Western Reserve University this year for music. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 87% of students finish within six years. About 19 music degrees were awarded at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $74,459 in their early career. Case Western Reserve University graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans.
See the full music program report for Case Western Reserve University
A rank of #2 makes Northwestern University one of the top schools for music. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 141 music degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from Northwestern University earn around $28,057 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $18,166 in student loans.
Read more about the music program at Northwestern University
Students looking for a strong music program will find one at Illinois State University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 47 music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Illinois State University earn around $35,863 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
Get the full music details for Illinois State University
Butler University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music, landing the #4 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%. About 26 music degrees were awarded at Butler University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from Butler University earn around $68,222 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,170.
Read more about the music program at Butler University
A rank of #5 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the top schools for music. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. About 208 music degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $29,641 in their early career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,397 in student loans.
See the full music program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire landed the #6 spot for music this year. This large public university is located in the city of Eau Claire. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 54 music degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent year. Music graduates of University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of $43,764 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,637 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Lawrence University came in at #7 for music this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Appleton. Lawrence University graduates 77% of students within six years. Lawrence University awarded about 51 music degrees in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
Read more about the music program at Lawrence University
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #8 position for music this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 49 music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $31,552 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,813.
Get the full music details for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Michigan State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Michigan State University awarded about 156 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $40,570 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,750.
See the full music program report for Michigan State University
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #10 spot for music this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 88% of students finish within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 55 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $35,209 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #11 position for music this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 441 music degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $28,328 in their early career. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $20,769 in student loans.
Get the full music details for Indiana University Bloomington
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #12 position for music this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 music degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Music graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $61,829 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,115.
See the full music program report for University Of Illinois At Chicago
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #13 for music this year. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Wheaton College Illinois graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 music students who graduated with this degree at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Wheaton College Illinois earn around $26,540 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,556.
See the full music program report for Wheaton College Illinois
Ball State University landed the #14 spot for music this year. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 music students who graduated with this degree at Ball State University in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $47,863 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,518 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for Ball State University
Northeastern Illinois University placed #15 among the best music schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 music degrees were awarded at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $49,254. Students borrow a median of $17,600 to complete this degree.
Get the full music details for Northeastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University came in at #16 for music this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. About 47% of students finish within six years. Eastern Illinois University awarded about 32 music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Eastern Illinois University earn around $37,163 in the first couple years of their career. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $26,300 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music from Eastern Illinois University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #17 among the best music schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 119 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $25,536. Typical student debt for the program is $24,625.
See the full music program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #18 among the best music schools. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 music students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $34,079 in their early career. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #19 for music this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Athens. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 74 music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music 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.
See the full music program report for Ohio University Main Campus
Cedarville University came in at #20 for music this year. Located in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 11 music degrees were awarded at Cedarville University in the most recent year. Music graduates of Cedarville University earn a median of $57,104 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,110 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from Cedarville University
Depaul University placed #21 among the best music schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 81 music students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Depaul University earn around $22,885 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,334 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from Depaul University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #22 among the best music schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 224 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $22,533 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,946 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater came in at #23 for music this year. This large public university is located in the town of Whitewater. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates 63% of students within six years. About 26 music degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent year. Music graduates of University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn a median of $31,134 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in music from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater
Capital University came in at #24 for music this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Columbus. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 43 music students who graduated with this degree at Capital University in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Capital University earn a median of $33,143 early in their careers. Capital University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the music program at Capital University
Western Michigan University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 60 music students who graduated with this degree at Western Michigan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Western Michigan University earn around $27,361 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in music from Western Michigan University
Rest of the Top 50 Music Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s music ranking:
Honorable Mentions
A few more music schools worth a look:
Narrow Music Schools by State
