2026 Best Music Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Music certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 1375 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated 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 Music Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Leading the list is Valencia College, our #1 Music school in the United States. Based in Orlando, FL, Valencia College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,664, while out-of-state students pay about $9,576. The median Music program debt is $10,575. Get the full Valencia College report
The strong Music programs at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #2 place in the United States. Based in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Get the full Purdue University Main Campus report
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater came in at #3 on this year's Music ranking in the United States. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a public school based in Whitewater, WI. About 63% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $18,716. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Whitewater report
A rank of #4 makes University Of Florida one of the top choices in the United States. Set in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. University Of Florida Music students take on a median of $17,669 in debt. More on University Of Florida
The strong Music programs at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earned it the #5 place in the United States. This public school is set in Eau Claire, WI. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,642, while out-of-state students pay about $19,228. Graduates carry a median of $26,637 in student loans. More on University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #6 in this year's ranking. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public school based in Columbia, SC. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,688, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Music program here. Get the full University Of South Carolina Columbia report
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. Set in Millersville, PA, Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,128, while out-of-state students pay about $22,952. The median Music program debt is $27,000. Get the full Millersville University Of Pennsylvania report
University Of Kentucky landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Lexington, KY. About 71% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete their Music program here. More on University Of Kentucky
Indiana State University did well this year, earning the #9 position. This public school is set in Terre Haute, IN. Indiana State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 43%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,258, compared with $22,322 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Music program here. Read the full report on Indiana State University
Temple University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. Located in Philadelphia, PA, Temple University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. In-state tuition and fees run about $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Typical Music student debt is $24,000. More on Temple University
Millikin University placed #11 among Music schools in the United States. Based in Decatur, IL, Millikin University is a private not-for-profit institution. Millikin University posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. In-state tuition and fees average $26,792. Millikin University Music students take on a median of $26,996 in debt. Read more about Millikin University
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Based in Murfreesboro, TN, Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Typical Music student debt is $22,608. Get the full Middle Tennessee State University report
Indiana University Bloomington did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Students borrow a median of $20,769 to complete their Music program here. Read the full report on Indiana University Bloomington
Holyoke Community College did well this year, earning the #14 position. Based in Holyoke, MA, Holyoke Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,988, with out-of-state students paying around $10,932. Holyoke Community College Music students take on a median of $9,763 in debt. Read the full report on Holyoke Community College
Northern Arizona University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. Set in Flagstaff, AZ, Northern Arizona University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,619, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Northern Arizona University Music students take on a median of $21,645 in debt. Read the full report on Northern Arizona University
University Of Miami placed #16 among Music schools in the United States. University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit school based in Coral Gables, FL. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $62,616 in tuition and fees. University Of Miami Music students take on a median of $13,998 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Miami
Scottsdale Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. Located in Scottsdale, AZ, Scottsdale Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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 North Florida came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Located in Jacksonville, FL, University Of North Florida is a public institution. University Of North Florida graduates 65% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,964, with out-of-state students paying around $19,407. The median Music program debt is $20,188. See the full University Of North Florida profile
Utah Valley University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Located in Orem, UT, Utah Valley University is a public institution. Utah Valley University posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical Music student debt is $16,478. More on Utah Valley University
El Centro College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Located in Dallas, TX, El Centro College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. The median Music program debt is $14,557. See the full El Centro College profile
San Diego Mesa College did well this year, earning the #21 position. This public school is set in San Diego, CA. San Diego Mesa College posts a six-year graduation rate of 92%. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. The median Music program debt is $6,999. Get the full San Diego Mesa College report
American Intercontinental University Atlanta did well this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Atlanta, GA, American Intercontinental University Atlanta is a private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 9%. In-state tuition and fees average $13,527. American Intercontinental University Atlanta Music students take on a median of $9,500 in debt. Read the full report on American Intercontinental University Atlanta
Dutchess Community College landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. Located in Poughkeepsie, NY, Dutchess Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,670, while out-of-state students pay about $10,670. Graduates carry a median of $11,836 in student loans. Read more about Dutchess Community College
Adelphi University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. Get the full Adelphi University report
Clark University
Clark University placed #25 among Music schools in the United States. Read more about Clark University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Music Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
De Anza College
De Anza College came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on De Anza College
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus
Kansas Wesleyan University ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. More on Kansas Wesleyan University
Mott Community College came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Mott Community College
Union College New York came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Read more about Union College New York
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of California Santa Cruz
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus did well this year, earning the #32 position. Get the full University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus report
University Of The Ozarks landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of The Ozarks profile
University Of The Pacific ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. More on University Of The Pacific
Campbell University came in at #35 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Campbell University
Concordia University Texas placed #36 among Music schools in the United States. More on Concordia University Texas
Tacoma Community College landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Tacoma Community College report
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay did well this year, earning the #38 position. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Green Bay report
Arkansas Baptist College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. Get the full Arkansas Baptist College report
Linfield College
Linfield College did well this year, earning the #40 position. See the full Linfield College profile
Clayton State University came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Get the full Clayton State University report
Palomar College
Palomar College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. See the full Palomar College profile
Tabor College
Tabor College placed #43 among Music schools in the United States. Read the full report on Tabor College
Warner Pacific College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. Get the full Warner Pacific College report
Central Texas College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. Read the full report on Central Texas College
Covenant College
Covenant College placed #46 among Music schools in the United States. Read the full report on Covenant College
Los Angeles Valley College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. Get the full Los Angeles Valley College report
North Greenville University landed the #48 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on North Greenville University
Trevecca Nazarene University came in at #49 in this year's ranking. See the full Trevecca Nazarene University profile
Chicago State University came in at #50 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Chicago State University
Related Music Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Music Schools (All Levels)
- Best Music Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Music Associate’s 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
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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).