by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Stringed Instruments explores Stringed Instruments. A Program That Prepares Individual To Master A Stringed Instrument And Performing Arts As Solo, Ensemble And/or Accompanist Performers. Includes Instruction In Playing And Personal Style Development. Examples: [Violin], [Viola], [Double Bass], [Guitar], [Banjo], [Harp]. Read on to learn the essential details every stringed instruments major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering stringed instruments programs.
Nationwide, stringed instruments draws strong interest, with 589 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Stringed Instruments Schools ranking analyzes these 26 schools to determine the best overall colleges for stringed instruments students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of stringed instruments programs later in this article.
Programs in Stringed Instruments develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations stringed instruments graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a stringed instruments program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a stringed instruments major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several stringed instruments degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 215 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 352 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 20 |
People currently working in careers related to stringed instruments tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 49.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 30.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in stringed instruments careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying stringed instruments prepares you for numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to stringed instruments.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to stringed instruments.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Musicians and Singers | 44,568 | 7.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of stringed instruments graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $29,248 |
| 4 years | $35,586 |
| 5 years | $40,828 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for stringed instruments graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers stringed instruments grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Musicians and Singers | $96,571 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 26 different stringed instruments programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased stringed instruments school rankings to help you.
Students interested in stringed instruments, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music, General | 10,690 |
| Music Performance, General | 7,193 |
| Music Technology | 1,938 |
| Music Theory and Composition | 1,336 |
| Music, Other | 1,141 |
| Voice and Opera | 668 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 534 |
| Jazz/Jazz Studies | 523 |
| Music Pedagogy | 385 |
| Conducting | 180 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
