2026 Best Sacred Music Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Sacred Music doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 158 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Sacred Music Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Leading the list is University Of Notre Dame, our #1 Sacred Music school in the United States. Set in Notre Dame, IN, University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,025. The median Sacred Music program debt is $19,891. See the full University Of Notre Dame profile
You'll be in good company at Southern Methodist University, which ranked #2 this year. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Dallas, TX. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $67,040 in tuition and fees. Southern Methodist University Sacred Music students take on a median of $20,712 in debt. Read more about Southern Methodist University
Baylor University came in at #3 on this year's Sacred Music ranking in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Waco, TX. About 80% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,100. The median Sacred Music program debt is $23,928. See the full Baylor University profile
A rank of #4 makes Liberty University one of the top choices in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lynchburg, VA. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,173. Liberty University Sacred Music students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. See the full Liberty University profile
Out of the 158 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Reinhardt University landed the #5 spot. Get the full Reinhardt University report
Valor Christian College did well this year, earning the #6 position. More on Valor Christian College
Samford University placed #7 among Sacred Music schools in the United States. Get the full Samford University report
University Of Arkansas came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of Arkansas report
Corban University landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. See the full Corban University profile
Lenoir Rhyne University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Get the full Lenoir Rhyne University report
University Of Southern California did well this year, earning the #11 position. Read more about University Of Southern California
Boston University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Read the full report on Boston University
Hardin Simmons University landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Hardin Simmons University
Pfeiffer University landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Pfeiffer University
John Brown University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. See the full John Brown University profile
St Olaf College
St Olaf College landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. Read more about St Olaf College
Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences placed #17 among Sacred Music schools in the United States. More on Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences
Baptist Bible College placed #18 among Sacred Music schools in the United States. See the full Baptist Bible College profile
Life Pacific College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. More on Life Pacific College
Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. See the full Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College profile
Lee College
Lee College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Sacred Music schools. Get the full Lee College report
Columbia International University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Read more about Columbia International University
Dallas Christian College placed #23 among Sacred Music schools in the United States. Read more about Dallas Christian College
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Sum Bible College And Theological Seminary came in at #25 in this year's ranking. More on Sum Bible College And Theological Seminary
Rest of the Top 50 Best Sacred Music Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Texas Christian University came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Read more about Texas Christian University
University Of North Florida ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Sacred Music schools. Read the full report on University Of North Florida
Concordia University Ann Arbor came in at #28 in this year's ranking. Read more about Concordia University Ann Arbor
The Masters College And Seminary landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. More on The Masters College And Seminary
Concordia University Chicago ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Sacred Music schools. More on Concordia University Chicago
Ohio Christian University landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Ohio Christian University report
North Central University landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. More on North Central University
Spring Arbor University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Sacred Music schools. Read the full report on Spring Arbor University
Mount Olive College did well this year, earning the #34 position. See the full Mount Olive College profile
Houghton College
Houghton College did well this year, earning the #35 position. More on Houghton College
Presbyterian College did well this year, earning the #36 position. Read the full report on Presbyterian College
Indiana Wesleyan University placed #37 among Sacred Music schools in the United States. More on Indiana Wesleyan University
Truett Mcconnell College landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Truett Mcconnell College report
Williams Baptist College landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Williams Baptist College report
Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary placed #40 among Sacred Music schools in the United States. Read more about Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
William Carey University did well this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about William Carey University
Biola University
Biola University did well this year, earning the #42 position. Read more about Biola University
Family Of Faith College placed #43 among Sacred Music schools in the United States. See the full Family Of Faith College profile
Letourneau University came in at #44 in this year's ranking. See the full Letourneau University profile
Oak Hills Christian College landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Oak Hills Christian College
Texas Lutheran University ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Sacred Music schools. Read more about Texas Lutheran University
Union Bible College did well this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on Union Bible College
Newberry College
Newberry College came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Read more about Newberry College
Anderson University Indiana did well this year, earning the #49 position. Read more about Anderson University Indiana
Concordia University Saint Paul did well this year, earning the #50 position. Read more about Concordia University Saint Paul
Related Sacred Music Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Sacred Music Schools (All Levels)
- Best Sacred Music Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Sacred Music Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Sacred Music Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Sacred Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Sacred Music Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Sacred Music Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 158 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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