2026 Best Music Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Music associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 1375 institutions 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.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Music Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Valencia College tops our 2026 ranking of the best Music associate's degree schools in the United States. Located in Orlando, FL, Valencia College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, with out-of-state students paying around $9,576. Graduates carry a median of $10,575 in student loans. More on Valencia College
John Tyler Community College came in at #2 on this year's Music ranking in the United States. Located in Chester, VA, John Tyler Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,082, with out-of-state students paying around $11,520. Students borrow a median of $11,262 to complete their Music program here. More on John Tyler Community College
A rank of #3 makes Trevecca Nazarene University one of the top choices in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $31,300. Students borrow a median of $24,962 to complete their Music program here. More on Trevecca Nazarene University
A rank of #4 makes Academy Of Art University one of the top choices in the United States. Located in San Francisco, CA, Academy Of Art University is a private for-profit institution. Academy Of Art University graduates 34% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $30,736. The median Music program debt is $30,949. See the full Academy Of Art University profile
A rank of #5 makes Full Sail University one of the top choices in the United States. Full Sail University is a private for-profit school based in Winter Park, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. In-state tuition and fees run about $26,906. Full Sail University Music students take on a median of $29,000 in debt. Read more about Full Sail University
Arapahoe Community College placed #6 among Music schools in the United States. This public school is set in Littleton, CO. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,434, with out-of-state students paying around $17,034. Graduates carry a median of $20,448 in student loans. Read more about Arapahoe Community College
Holyoke Community College placed #7 among Music schools in the United States. Set in Holyoke, MA, Holyoke Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,988, with out-of-state students paying around $10,932. Typical Music student debt is $9,763. Get the full Holyoke Community College report
Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. This public school is set in Milwaukee, WI. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,427. Graduates carry a median of $18,296 in student loans. Get the full Milwaukee Area Technical College report
Cuny Laguardia Community College did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Long Island City, NY, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,098. Typical Music student debt is $8,858. Read more about Cuny Laguardia Community College
Northwest College landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. Set in Powell, WY, Northwest College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,962, compared with $11,262 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $12,996 in student loans. See the full Northwest College profile
Collin County Community College District landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. Based in McKinney, TX, Collin County Community College District is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,014, compared with $6,064 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,716 to complete their Music program here. More on Collin County Community College District
Finger Lakes Community College did well this year, earning the #12 position. Finger Lakes Community College is a public school based in Canandaigua, NY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,258, with out-of-state students paying around $8,442. The median Music program debt is $16,736. Read the full report on Finger Lakes Community College
Century College did well this year, earning the #13 position. This public school is set in White Bear Lake, MN. Students from in state pay about $6,214 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,332 to complete their Music program here. More on Century College
Austin Community College District ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. Set in Austin, TX, Austin Community College District is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Austin Community College District Music students take on a median of $14,519 in debt. See the full Austin Community College District profile
Scottsdale Community College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Scottsdale Community College is a public school based in Scottsdale, AZ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans. Read the full report on Scottsdale Community College
University Of Central Oklahoma landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. Set in Edmond, OK, University Of Central Oklahoma is a public institution. University Of Central Oklahoma graduates 37% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,818 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,704 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete their Music program here. Read the full report on University Of Central Oklahoma
Sinclair Community College landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Located in Dayton, OH, Sinclair Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete their Music program here. See the full Sinclair Community College profile
County College Of Morris did well this year, earning the #18 position. Based in Randolph, NJ, County College Of Morris is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,210, while out-of-state students pay about $14,310. Students borrow a median of $9,420 to complete their Music program here. Get the full County College Of Morris report
El Centro College landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Based in Dallas, TX, El Centro College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Typical Music student debt is $14,557. More on El Centro College
Salt Lake Community College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in Salt Lake City, UT, Salt Lake Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,426, while out-of-state students pay about $14,244. Students borrow a median of $10,855 to complete their Music program here. Read more about Salt Lake Community College
Nashville State Community College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Set in Nashville, TN, Nashville State Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,730, compared with $17,714 for out-of-state students. Typical Music student debt is $16,745. Read more about Nashville State Community College
Brookdale Community College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Located in Lincroft, NJ, Brookdale Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,270 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,140. Typical Music student debt is $12,651. See the full Brookdale Community College profile
Onondaga Community College did well this year, earning the #23 position. This public school is set in Syracuse, NY. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,102, with out-of-state students paying around $11,392. Onondaga Community College Music students take on a median of $12,000 in debt. Get the full Onondaga Community College report
Community College Of Aurora landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. Community College Of Aurora is a public school based in Aurora, CO. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,470, compared with $17,070 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $15,365 in student loans. See the full Community College Of Aurora profile
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College placed #25 among Music schools in the United States. Set in New York, NY, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,170 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,050. Typical Music student debt is $8,794. Read more about Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Music Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Utah Valley University landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Set in Orem, UT, Utah Valley University is a public institution. About 40% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. The median Music program debt is $16,478. Read the full report on Utah Valley University
College Of Southern Nevada ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. Set in Las Vegas, NV, College Of Southern Nevada is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,358, compared with $13,024 for out-of-state students. Typical Music student debt is $9,980. Read the full report on College Of Southern Nevada
Bellevue College landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Located in Bellevue, WA, Bellevue College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,436, with out-of-state students paying around $10,502. Typical Music student debt is $18,839. Read more about Bellevue College
Spokane Falls Community College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. Located in Spokane, WA, Spokane Falls Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,461 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,612. Students borrow a median of $17,031 to complete their Music program here. Get the full Spokane Falls Community College report
Owens Community College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. Set in Perrysburg, OH, Owens Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,870, with out-of-state students paying around $10,502. Owens Community College Music students take on a median of $19,383 in debt. More on Owens Community College
Nassau Community College did well this year, earning the #32 position. Based in Garden City, NY, Nassau Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, compared with $12,130 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $11,850 in student loans. See the full Nassau Community College profile
Monroe Community College placed #33 among Music schools in the United States. Based in Rochester, NY, Monroe Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,006, compared with $11,056 for out-of-state students. The median Music program debt is $12,921. Read the full report on Monroe Community College
Miami Dade College landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Miami, FL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,838, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Typical Music student debt is $11,967. More on Miami Dade College
Tidewater Community College came in at #35 in this year's ranking. Located in Norfolk, VA, Tidewater Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,858, while out-of-state students pay about $12,296. Students borrow a median of $14,001 to complete their Music program here. See the full Tidewater Community College profile
San Diego Mesa College landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in San Diego, CA. San Diego Mesa College graduates 92% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. The median Music program debt is $6,999. More on San Diego Mesa College
Suffolk County Community College placed #38 among Music schools in the United States. Set in Selden, NY, Suffolk County Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,630 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans. Read the full report on Suffolk County Community College
Niagara County Community College did well this year, earning the #39 position. Set in Sanborn, NY, Niagara County Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,894, while out-of-state students pay about $12,030. Graduates carry a median of $13,970 in student loans. See the full Niagara County Community College profile
Oklahoma City Community College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. This public school is set in Oklahoma City, OK. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,059, compared with $9,810 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,919 to complete their Music program here. Read the full report on Oklahoma City Community College
Los Angeles Film School came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Los Angeles Film School is a private for-profit school based in Hollywood, CA. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. The median Music program debt is $22,625. Get the full Los Angeles Film School report
Cuny Hostos Community College placed #42 among Music schools in the United States. Located in Bronx, NY, Cuny Hostos Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,254, with out-of-state students paying around $8,134. Graduates carry a median of $9,007 in student loans. See the full Cuny Hostos Community College profile
Cuny Queensborough Community College did well this year, earning the #43 position. This public school is set in Bayside, NY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,210, while out-of-state students pay about $8,090. Students borrow a median of $10,052 to complete their Music program here. Get the full Cuny Queensborough Community College report
Broome Community College landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. See the full Broome Community College profile
Clark College
Clark College landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. See the full Clark College profile
Le Moyne Owen College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. Get the full Le Moyne Owen College report
Muskingum University landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Muskingum University
Principia College landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. See the full Principia College profile
State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. See the full State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota profile
Texas Wesleyan University did well this year, earning the #48 position. Read the full report on Texas Wesleyan University
College Of The Sequoias ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. More on College Of The Sequoias
Elizabethtown College landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Elizabethtown College
Related Music Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Music Schools (All Levels)
- Best Music Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Music Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Music Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Music Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Music Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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 1375 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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