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Best Colleges for Music

The best colleges for a Music degree, led by Northwestern University, Northeastern University and University of Florida. Each school is shown with its acceptance rate, tuition, and average SAT so you can weigh Music programs side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best college for Music?

Based on our rankings, Northwestern University is the top-ranked college for Music. Other top choices include Northeastern University, University of Florida, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

What are the best Music schools?

The best Music schools, based on program-specific federal data including median earnings and graduate counts, are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, University of Florida. Our rankings use College Scorecard field-of-study data rather than editorial opinion.

How much does it cost to study Music?

The average out-of-state tuition among top Music programs is approximately $44,866 per year. However, costs vary significantly — many schools offer generous financial aid packages that can reduce the effective cost.

How long does it take to get a Music degree?

A bachelor's degree in Music typically takes four years of full-time study. Some programs offer accelerated tracks or combined bachelor's-to-master's options that can extend or shorten the timeline.

How are these Music rankings determined?

Our major rankings are independently calculated from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study (CIP) data — primarily median earnings 4 years after graduation and program scale (graduate count), with a 10+ annual graduates minimum per program. They are not derived from US News or any other publication.

Career outcomes for Music graduates

Among the top 10 ranked Music programs, the average early-career salary is approximately $78,924 per year. Below are the highest-paying Music programs based on federal College Scorecard earnings data reported by graduates four years after completion.

  1. 1. Northwestern University — Evanston, IL · 7.7% acceptance · SAT 1,533 · $68,322 tuition · 95% grad rate
  2. 2. Northeastern University — Boston, MA · 5.2% acceptance · SAT 1,497 · $66,162 tuition · 91% grad rate
  3. 3. University of Florida — Gainesville, FL · 24.2% acceptance · SAT 1,403 · $28,659 tuition · 91% grad rate
  4. 4. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, IL · 42.4% acceptance · SAT 1,440 · $35,124 tuition · 85% grad rate
  5. 5. University of Connecticut — Storrs, CT · 52.4% acceptance · SAT 1,348 · $43,712 tuition · 83% grad rate
  6. 6. Michigan State University — East Lansing, MI · 84.8% acceptance · SAT 1,269 · $43,842 tuition · 81% grad rate
  7. 7. University of Southern California — Los Angeles, CA · 9.8% acceptance · SAT 1,495 · $72,097 tuition · 92% grad rate
  8. 8. Boston University — Boston, MA · 11.1% acceptance · SAT 1,480 · $68,102 tuition · 89% grad rate
  9. 9. University of Iowa — Iowa City, IA · 83.6% acceptance · SAT 1,200 · $33,371 tuition · 75% grad rate
  10. 10. University of Delaware — Newark, DE · 70.6% acceptance · SAT 1,292 · $41,400 tuition · 81% grad rate
  11. 11. Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, MD · 6.4% acceptance · SAT 1,553 · $65,230 tuition · 94% grad rate
  12. 12. Florida State University — Tallahassee, FL · 24.2% acceptance · SAT 1,361 · $18,786 tuition · 86% grad rate
  13. 13. Auburn University — Auburn, AL · 45.9% acceptance · SAT 1,345 · $34,922 tuition · 82% grad rate
  14. 14. University of Denver — Denver, CO · 77.8% acceptance · SAT 1,355 · $61,398 tuition · 76% grad rate
  15. 15. University of Colorado Boulder — Boulder, CO · 78.1% acceptance · SAT 1,357 · $44,918 tuition · 74% grad rate
  16. 16. Arizona State University Campus Immersion — Tempe, AZ · 89.9% acceptance · $33,139 tuition · 68% grad rate
  17. 17. University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, AL · 88.2% acceptance · SAT 1,258 · $22,562 tuition · 64% grad rate
  18. 18. University of Kentucky — Lexington, KY · 92.9% acceptance · SAT 1,215 · $34,140 tuition · 71% grad rate
  19. 19. University of Arkansas — Fayetteville, AR · 74.3% acceptance · SAT 1,169 · $29,966 tuition · 71% grad rate
  20. 20. University of Miami — Coral Gables, FL · 18.9% acceptance · SAT 1,415 · $62,616 tuition · 84% grad rate
  21. 21. Chapman University — Orange, CA · 65.4% acceptance · SAT 1,357 · $64,984 tuition · 82% grad rate
  22. 22. DePaul University — Chicago, IL · 75.9% acceptance · SAT 1,262 · $45,999 tuition · 68% grad rate
  23. 23. University of Arizona — Tucson, AZ · 86.1% acceptance · SAT 1,246 · $42,278 tuition · 68% grad rate
  24. 24. University of Central Arkansas — Conway, AR · 89.5% acceptance · SAT 1,118 · $18,023 tuition · 54% grad rate
  25. 25. Indiana University-Bloomington — Bloomington, IN · 78.2% acceptance · SAT 1,313 · $41,891 tuition · 80% grad rate

Best Colleges for Music on PickACampus