DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 1
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 50.09), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "MBA in Music Business" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "MBA in Music Business" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 1
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 0 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No ESYOH offers, checking direct offers
ADVERTISEMENTS
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 Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall music education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Music
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 school for music. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 141 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $28,057 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,166 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music program at Northwestern University
Illinois State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 47 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $35,863 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Get the full music details for Illinois State University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the top schools for music. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. About 62% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 12 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $61,829 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans.
Get the full music details for University Of Illinois At Chicago
Wheaton College Illinois is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music, ranking #4. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 28 music students who graduated with this degree at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $26,540. Typical student debt for the program is $24,556.
Read more about the music program at Wheaton College Illinois
Northeastern Illinois University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music, ranking #5. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. About 22% of students finish within six years. Northeastern Illinois University awarded about 18 music degrees in the most recent data 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.
Read more about the music program at Northeastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University came in at #6 for music this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. About 32 music degrees were awarded at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $37,163. Typical student debt for the program is $26,300.
See the full music program report for Eastern Illinois University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #7 position for music this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 119 music degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $25,536. Students borrow a median of $24,625 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #8 position for music this year. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates 55% of students within six years. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 17 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $34,079 early in their careers. 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
Depaul University placed #9 among the best music schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. Depaul University awarded about 81 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $22,885. Students borrow a median of $23,334 to complete this degree.
Read more about the music program at Depaul University
Northern Illinois University landed the #10 spot for music this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. There were roughly 63 music students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $41,632 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full music details for Northern Illinois University
Western Illinois University placed #11 among the best music schools. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. Western Illinois University awarded about 50 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $32,666 in their early career. Western Illinois University graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music from Western Illinois University
Columbia College Chicago ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 67 music students who graduated with this degree at Columbia College Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $19,943. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the music program at Columbia College Chicago
Millikin University earned the #13 position for music this year. Located in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 14 music students who graduated with this degree at Millikin University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Millikin University earn around $21,138 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,996 to complete this degree.
See the full music program report for Millikin University
Roosevelt University placed #14 among the best music schools. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. There were roughly 70 music students who graduated with this degree at Roosevelt University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $29,974 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,750.
See the full music program report for Roosevelt University
