Earn the music business degree that fits into the business world – and partners Southern New Hampshire University with world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
No school ranked higher than Stanford University this year for music. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. Stanford University awarded about 15 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $100,827 in their early career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 46 music degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
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Students looking for a strong music program will find one at University Of Florida, which ranked #3. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Music graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $22,559 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,669.
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University Of Utah is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music, ranking #4. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Utah in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $42,548 in their early career. University Of Utah graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
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Butler University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 17 music degrees were awarded at Butler University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Butler University generally make around $68,222. Typical student debt for the program is $24,170.
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California State University Northridge ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 95 music students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $37,985 in their early career. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $15,933 in student loans.
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Suny At Binghamton ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Vestal. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 10 music degrees were awarded at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $51,766 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,691.
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New York University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. New York University awarded about 154 music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from New York University earn around $32,175 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Maryland College Park ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 51 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Music graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $39,616 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,614 to complete this degree.
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University Of Houston earned the #10 position for music this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 45 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from University Of Houston earn around $52,799 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 20 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Music graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $31,551 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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West Chester University Of Pennsylvania ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 music students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
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Messiah College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 34 music degrees were awarded at Messiah College in the most recent year. Music graduates of Messiah College earn a median of $66,109 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,965 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #14 spot for music this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 62 music students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Music graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $27,179 early in their careers. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Montclair State University came in at #15 for music this year. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 45 music students who graduated with this degree at Montclair State University in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Montclair State University earn a median of $54,350 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #16 spot for music this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 19 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $31,552 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
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Northwestern University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Northwestern University awarded about 54 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $21,290. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $18,166 in student loans.
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University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned the #18 position for music this year. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 16 music degrees were awarded at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $38,029 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,250 to complete this degree.
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Yale University landed the #19 spot for music this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 107 music degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Music graduates of Yale University earn a median of $21,250 early in their careers. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
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Boston University came in at #20 for music this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. About 89% of students finish within six years. Boston University awarded about 81 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $30,982 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,957.
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University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #21 for music this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 33 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $35,939 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Tennessee ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 30 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $34,198 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,453.
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Washington State University landed the #23 spot for music this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Pullman. Washington State University graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 music students who graduated with this degree at Washington State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Washington State University generally make around $54,697. Students borrow a median of $24,503 to complete this degree.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 music students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $36,928 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Central Washington University earned the #25 position for music this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Ellensburg. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Central Washington University awarded about 45 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of $71,579 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Music Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s music ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 1375 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
