2026 Best Music Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Music undergraduate certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 1375 schools 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.
So you can compare your options, 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 Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Yale University to be the best Music school in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in New Haven, CT. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. In-state tuition and fees run about $67,250. Typical Music student debt is $14,357. More on Yale University
The strong Music programs at Longy School Of Music Of Bard College earned it the #2 place in the United States. Located in Cambridge, MA, Longy School Of Music Of Bard College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $55,275. Get the full Longy School Of Music Of Bard College report
The strong Music programs at Nashville State Community College earned it the #3 place in the United States. Set in Nashville, TN, Nashville State Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,730 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,714 for out-of-state students. Nashville State Community College Music students take on a median of $16,745 in debt. Read the full report on Nashville State Community College
Berklee College Of Music came in at #4 on this year's Music ranking in the United States. Based in Boston, MA, Berklee College Of Music is a private not-for-profit institution. Berklee College Of Music posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. Students from in state pay about $52,040 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $24,979 in student loans. Read the full report on Berklee College Of Music
The strong Music programs at Macomb Community College earned it the #5 place in the United States. Macomb Community College is a public school based in Warren, MI. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Macomb Community College Music students take on a median of $9,862 in debt. Read the full report on Macomb Community College
Missouri Southern State University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Joplin, MO, Missouri Southern State University is a public institution. Missouri Southern State University graduates 40% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,600, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. Typical Music student debt is $22,241. Read more about Missouri Southern State University
El Centro College placed #7 among Music schools in the United States. El Centro College is a public school based in Dallas, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. El Centro College Music students take on a median of $14,557 in debt. Get the full El Centro College report
College Of The Siskiyous ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. Read more about College Of The Siskiyous
Cuny Hostos Community College did well this year, earning the #9 position. See the full Cuny Hostos Community College profile
Fullerton College did well this year, earning the #10 position. Get the full Fullerton College report
Vincennes University landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. See the full Vincennes University profile
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #12 among Music schools in the United States. See the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University profile
Buena Vista University placed #14 among Music schools in the United States. Read more about Buena Vista University
Grays Harbor College landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. See the full Grays Harbor College profile
Mt San Antonio College landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. See the full Mt San Antonio College profile
University Of Minnesota Morris did well this year, earning the #17 position. See the full University Of Minnesota Morris profile
Agnes Scott College placed #18 among Music schools in the United States. Get the full Agnes Scott College report
Asbury University did well this year, earning the #19 position. Read the full report on Asbury University
California State University Fullerton did well this year, earning the #20 position. See the full California State University Fullerton profile
Concordia University Ann Arbor came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Get the full Concordia University Ann Arbor report
Kent State University At Kent came in at #22 in this year's ranking. More on Kent State University At Kent
Lone Star College System did well this year, earning the #23 position. More on Lone Star College System
Western Illinois University placed #24 among Music schools in the United States. More on Western Illinois University
California State University Monterey Bay landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Get the full California State University Monterey Bay report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Music Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
American Intercontinental University Atlanta placed #26 among Music schools in the United States. See the full American Intercontinental University Atlanta profile
Bucks County Community College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. Read the full report on Bucks County Community College
Concordia College At Moorhead came in at #28 in this year's ranking. More on Concordia College At Moorhead
Edward Waters College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. Read more about Edward Waters College
La Sierra University ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. See the full La Sierra University profile
Northern Illinois University landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Northern Illinois University
University Of The Cumberlands ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. See the full University Of The Cumberlands profile
Wilberforce University came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Wilberforce University
College Of Marin
College Of Marin placed #34 among Music schools in the United States. Read the full report on College Of Marin
Eastern Arizona College did well this year, earning the #35 position. Get the full Eastern Arizona College report
Houston Baptist University came in at #36 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Houston Baptist University
Mesa State College landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Mesa State College
Ohlone Community College landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Ohlone Community College
Shoreline Community College came in at #39 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Shoreline Community College
Southwest Minnesota State University placed #40 among Music schools in the United States. Get the full Southwest Minnesota State University report
State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota placed #41 among Music schools in the United States. Get the full State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota report
Stony Brook University placed #42 among Music schools in the United States. Read more about Stony Brook University
Texas A And M University Central Texas came in at #43 in this year's ranking. More on Texas A And M University Central Texas
Bethune Cookman University ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. See the full Bethune Cookman University profile
Bucknell University landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Bucknell University report
Friends University placed #46 among Music schools in the United States. Get the full Friends University report
Northern Kentucky University did well this year, earning the #47 position. See the full Northern Kentucky University profile
Wesleyan College
Wesleyan College landed the #48 spot in the United States this year. See the full Wesleyan College profile
Merrimack College ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Music schools. More on Merrimack College
Syracuse University came in at #50 in this year's ranking. Read more about Syracuse University
Related Music Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Music Schools (All Levels)
- Best Music 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
These rankings are produced 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).
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