Music degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 327 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for music students pursuing a degree.
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Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 school for music. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 45 music students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in music, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 33 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $32,880. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong music program will find one at University Of Florida, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 85 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $22,559 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the top schools for music. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 music students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,131 in student loans.
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James Madison University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music, ranking #5. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 93 music degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from James Madison University earn around $36,106 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,968.
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University Of Mississippi Main Campus landed the #6 spot for music this year. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Mississippi Main Campus awarded about 36 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $38,029. Students borrow a median of $17,250 to complete this degree.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #7 spot for music this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 14 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $60,004. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full music program report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
George Mason University landed the #8 spot for music this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 57 music students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from George Mason University earn around $34,841 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,048 to complete this degree.
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Tennessee Technological University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 20 music degrees were awarded at Tennessee Technological University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from Tennessee Technological University generally make around $44,635. Tennessee Technological University graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #10 for music this year. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 27 music degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent year. Music graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $38,831 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,858.
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The University Of Tennessee placed #11 among the best music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 74 music students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Music graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $33,043 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,453.
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Tulane University Of Louisiana landed the #12 spot for music this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit institution. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates 86% of students within six years. Tulane University Of Louisiana awarded about 20 music degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $54,082 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,077 to complete this degree.
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University Of Alabama At Birmingham earned the #13 position for music this year. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 16 music degrees were awarded at University Of Alabama At Birmingham in the most recent year. Music graduates of University Of Alabama At Birmingham earn a median of $55,413 early in their careers. University Of Alabama At Birmingham graduates carry a median of $26,162 in student loans.
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The University Of Alabama ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tuscaloosa. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. About 50 music degrees were awarded at The University Of Alabama in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from The University Of Alabama earn around $50,740 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,675 to complete this degree.
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University Of Central Florida came in at #15 for music this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. University Of Central Florida graduates 78% of students within six years. About 69 music degrees were awarded at University Of Central Florida in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $21,957. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $20,567 in student loans.
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Florida State University placed #16 among the best music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 183 music students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music program make about $26,311 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,992.
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Middle Tennessee State University came in at #17 for music this year. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. Middle Tennessee State University awarded about 192 music degrees in the most recent data year. Music graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $27,586 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,608.
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Florida International University placed #18 among the best music schools. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Florida International University awarded about 59 music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Florida International University earn around $27,481 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,882.
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Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best music schools. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College awarded about 87 music degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music degree from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn around $28,530 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,455.
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University Of Miami landed the #20 spot for music this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Coral Gables. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 177 music degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from University Of Miami earn around $23,991 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,998 to complete this degree.
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University Of South Carolina Columbia landed the #21 spot for music this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. About 95 music degrees were awarded at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from University Of South Carolina Columbia earn around $38,397 in the first couple years of their career. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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University Of Georgia placed #22 among the best music schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. About 80 music degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Students who receive their music degree from University Of Georgia earn around $24,514 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,344 to complete this degree.
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Belmont University placed #23 among the best music schools. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 131 music degrees were awarded at Belmont University in the most recent year. Graduates of the music program make about $27,517 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,988 to complete this degree.
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College Of Charleston earned the #24 position for music this year. College Of Charleston is a large public school located in the city of Charleston. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. College Of Charleston awarded about 19 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from College Of Charleston generally make around $40,222. Typical student debt for the program is $24,733.
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The University Of Tennessee Martin came in at #25 for music this year. Located in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public university. The University Of Tennessee Martin graduates 52% of students within six years. The University Of Tennessee Martin awarded about 18 music degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, music degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $40,400. Typical student debt for the program is $23,770.
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Rest of the Top 50 Music Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s music ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 327 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).
