by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Voice Performance involves the study of Voice And Opera. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Master The Human Voice And Performing Art As Solo And/or Ensemble Performers In Concert, Choir, Opera, Or Other Forms Of Singing. Includes Instruction In Voice Pedagogy, Diction, Vocal Physiology And Exercise, Expressive Movement, Repertoire, Recital, And Personal Style Development. Read on to learn the key facts every voice performance student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering voice performance programs.
In the U.S., voice performance draws strong interest, with 668 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Voice Performance Schools ranking analyzes these 79 schools to determine the best overall colleges for voice performance students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of voice performance programs later in this article.
Programs in Voice Performance build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations voice performance graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a voice performance program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a voice performance major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several voice performance 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 8 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 286 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 364 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 10 |
People currently working in careers related to voice performance tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 46.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 29.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.4% |
| Some college courses | 1.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in voice performance careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in voice performance prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to voice performance.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to voice performance.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Music Directors and Composers | 180,947 | 6.4% |
| Musicians and Singers | 44,568 | 7.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of voice performance graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 voice performance graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers voice performance grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Musicians and Singers | $96,571 |
| Music Directors and Composers | $66,915 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 79 different voice performance programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased voice performance school rankings to help you.
Students interested in voice performance, 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 |
| Stringed Instruments | 589 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 534 |
| Jazz/Jazz Studies | 523 |
| Music Pedagogy | 385 |
| Conducting | 180 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
