by our College Data Analytics TeamMusic is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 181 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best music schools.
What’s on this page:
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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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 degrees they offer, see the list below.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best music schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 49 music degrees in the most recent data year. Get the full music details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
The College Of New Jersey is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music, landing the #2 spot this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Ewing. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 14 music degrees were awarded at The College Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $56,617 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,429 to complete this degree. See the full music program report for The College Of New Jersey
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 87 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 $52,541 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,614 to complete this degree. Read more about the music program at University Of Maryland College Park
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the suburb of West Chester. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 80 music degrees were awarded at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Read more about the music program at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
A rank of #5 makes County College Of Morris one of the top schools for music. Set in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public institution. About 16 music degrees were awarded at County College Of Morris in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from County College Of Morris generally make around $30,966. Students borrow a median of $9,420 to complete this degree. Read more about the music program at County College Of Morris
Rowan University landed the #6 spot for music this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glassboro. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Rowan University awarded about 83 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $32,781 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,500. See the full music program report for Rowan University
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #7 among the best music schools. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 74 music degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn around $36,818 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full music program report for Rutgers University New Brunswick
Suny At Binghamton came in at #8 for music this year. Located in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 music students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Suny At Binghamton earn around $51,766 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,691 to complete this degree. Read more about the music program at Suny At Binghamton
New York University placed #9 among the best music schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 269 music degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $28,287 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Get the full music details for New York University
Messiah College came in at #10 for music this year. Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. Messiah College graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 46 music students who graduated with this degree at Messiah College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Messiah College earn around $66,109 in the first couple years of their career. Messiah College graduates carry a median of $25,965 in student loans. See the full music program report for Messiah College
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania placed #11 among the best music schools. Located in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 music students who graduated with this degree at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. See the full music program report for Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania
Montclair State University placed #12 among the best music schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Montclair. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 123 music degrees were awarded at Montclair State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $41,164 in their early career. Montclair State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the music program at Montclair State University
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #13 position for music this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. About 41 music degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $32,924 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258. Read more about the music program at Columbia University In The City Of New York
Johns Hopkins University came in at #14 for music this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 238 music degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $23,620. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. See the full music program report for Johns Hopkins University
Skidmore College came in at #15 for music this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Skidmore College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Skidmore College awarded about 11 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $34,440 in their early career. Skidmore College graduates carry a median of $18,274 in student loans. Get the full music details for Skidmore College
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College landed the #16 spot for music this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College awarded about 10 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $61,459. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College graduates carry a median of $11,691 in student loans. More information about a degree in music from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College
University Of Delaware placed #17 among the best music schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Newark. About 82% of students finish within six years. University Of Delaware awarded about 51 music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from University Of Delaware earn around $38,417 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $25,334 in student loans. Get the full music details for University Of Delaware
Towson University landed the #18 spot for music this year. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. About 70% of students finish within six years. Towson University awarded about 29 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $19,618. Typical student debt for the program is $19,102. See the full music program report for Towson University
Salisbury University earned the #19 position for music this year. Salisbury University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salisbury. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 music degrees were awarded at Salisbury University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Salisbury University generally make around $45,476. Salisbury University graduates carry a median of $23,545 in student loans. More information about a degree in music from Salisbury University
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. Set in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 music students who graduated with this degree at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn around $37,660 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full music program report for Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania
Ithaca College placed #21 among the best music schools. Set in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ithaca College awarded about 62 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Ithaca College earn a median of $23,119 early in their careers. Ithaca College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the music program at Ithaca College
Bard College landed the #22 spot for music this year. Bard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Annandale-On-Hudson. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 51 music degrees were awarded at Bard College in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $30,660 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,402. Read more about the music program at Bard College
University At Buffalo landed the #23 spot for music this year. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. University At Buffalo awarded about 18 music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from University At Buffalo earn around $52,403 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,232. More information about a degree in music from University At Buffalo
Temple University landed the #24 spot for music this year. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 117 music degrees were awarded at Temple University in the most recent year. Music graduates of Temple University earn a median of $20,667 early in their careers. Temple University graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Read more about the music program at Temple University
Syracuse University placed #25 among the best music schools. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 32 music degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $18,574 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,130 to complete this degree. Read more about the music program at Syracuse University
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s music ranking:
The following schools placed in the top tier for music:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| #65 | The Juilliard School | New York, NY |
| #70 | Manhattan School Of Music | New York, NY |
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 · 181 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
