2026 Most Popular Music Schools
There are 1,375 colleges that offer a degree in Music. Ranked by yearly graduations, here are the most popular below:
Finding the Best Music School for You
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for Music students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendance, there are many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Most Popular Music Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 1,375 schools in the United States offering Music programs. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school’s program.
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2026 Most Popular Music Schools in the United States
Check out the Music programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the United States.
Top 25 Most Popular Music Schools
Our 2026 rankings named Berklee College of Music the most popular school in the U.S. for Music majors. Berklee College of Music is a private nonprofit school located in Boston, MA. During the most recent year for which we have data, 897 people earned their degree in Music from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $20,342. Read More…
Los Angeles Film School comes in at #2 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Music majors. Los Angeles Film School is a private for-profit school located in Hollywood, CA. This school awarded 622 degrees in Music in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $20,763. Full Music at Los Angeles Film School Report
Indiana University-Bloomington comes in at #3 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Music majors. Indiana University-Bloomington is a public school located in Bloomington, IN. This school awarded 441 degrees in Music in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $48,621. Read More…
Manhattan School of Music comes in at #4 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Music majors. Manhattan School of Music is a private nonprofit school located in New York, NY. This school awarded 354 degrees in Music in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $18,578. Read More…
University of North Texas landed the #5 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Music Schools ranking. University of North Texas is a public school located in Denton, TX. This school awarded 330 degrees in Music in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $42,036. Full Music at University of North Texas Report
Full Sail University landed the #6 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Music Schools ranking. Full Sail University is a private for-profit school located in Winter Park, FL. This school awarded 310 degrees in Music in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $26,076. Read full report on Music at Full Sail University
The Juilliard School comes in at #7 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Music majors. Located in New York, NY, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 282 degrees in Music in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $14,067. Read full report on Music at The Juilliard School
New York University landed the #8 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Music Schools ranking. Located in New York, NY, this is a private nonprofit institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 272 people earned their degree in Music from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $59,956. Read More…
University of Rochester comes in at #9 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Music majors. Located in Rochester, NY, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 263 degrees in Music in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $64,722. Full Music at University of Rochester Report
The New England Conservatory of Music comes in at #10 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Music majors. Located in Boston, MA, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 260 degrees in Music in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $40,669. Read More…
The New School landed the #11 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Music Schools ranking. Located in New York, NY, this is a private nonprofit institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 240 people earned their degree in Music from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $26,730. Full Music at The New School Report
Johns Hopkins University landed the #12 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Music Schools ranking. Located in Baltimore, MD, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 238 degrees in Music in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $89,069. Read full report on Music at Johns Hopkins University
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus landed the #13 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Music Schools ranking. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus is a public school located in Cincinnati, OH. During the most recent year for which we have data, 230 people earned their degree in Music from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $53,819. Full Music at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Report
University of Southern California landed the #14 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Music Schools ranking. Located in Los Angeles, CA, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 209 degrees in Music in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $63,275. Read full report on Music at University of Southern California
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor comes in at #15 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Music majors. Located in Ann Arbor, MI, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 208 people earned their degree in Music from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $64,597. Read More…
Musicians Institute landed the #16 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Music Schools ranking. Musicians Institute is a private for-profit school located in Hollywood, CA. This school awarded 205 degrees in Music in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669. Full Music at Musicians Institute Report
Liberty University landed the #17 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Music Schools ranking. Liberty University is a private nonprofit school located in Lynchburg, VA. This school awarded 193 degrees in Music in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $44,414. Read More…
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #18 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Music Schools ranking. Middle Tennessee State University is a public school located in Murfreesboro, TN. During the most recent year for which we have data, 192 people earned their degree in Music from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $38,819. Read More…
Florida State University comes in at #19 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Music majors. Florida State University is a public school located in Tallahassee, FL. This school awarded 183 degrees in Music in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,895. Read full report on Music at Florida State University
University of Miami comes in at #20 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Music majors. University of Miami is a private nonprofit school located in Coral Gables, FL. During the most recent year for which we have data, 177 people earned their degree in Music from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $54,633. Read full report on Music at University of Miami
Oberlin College landed the #21 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Music Schools ranking. Oberlin College is a private nonprofit school located in Oberlin, OH. This school awarded 168 degrees in Music in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $23,185. Full Music at Oberlin College Report
Northwestern University landed the #22 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Music Schools ranking. Located in Evanston, IL, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 164 degrees in Music in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $73,331. Read More…
Arizona State University Campus Immersion landed the #23 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Music Schools ranking. Arizona State University Campus Immersion is a public school located in Tempe, AZ. This school awarded 163 degrees in Music in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $48,210. Full Music at Arizona State University Campus Immersion Report
Michigan State University comes in at #24 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Music majors. Michigan State University is a public school located in East Lansing, MI. This school awarded 158 degrees in Music in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $50,898. Read More…
The University of Texas at Austin landed the #25 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Music Schools ranking. The University of Texas at Austin is a public school located in Austin, TX. This school awarded 158 degrees in Music in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $51,060. Full Music at The University of Texas at Austin Report
Rest of the Top Most Popular Music Schools
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that also graduate students in this major every year.
Music by Region
View the Most Popular Music Schools ranking for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| New England |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Great Lakes |
| Plains States |
| Southeast |
| Southwest |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Far Western US |
More Music Rankings
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this Most Popular Music Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you.
Majors Related to Music
Music Concentrations
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Music | 10,690 |
| Music Performance | 7,193 |
| Music Technology | 1,938 |
| Music Theory & Composition | 1,336 |
| Other Music | 1,141 |
| Voice Performance | 668 |
| Stringed Instruments | 589 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 534 |
| Jazz Studies | 523 |
| Music Pedagogy | 385 |
| Conducting | 180 |
| Music History | 166 |
| Woodwind Instruments | 158 |
| Musicology & Ethnomusicology | 155 |
| Brass Instruments | 109 |
| Sound Arts | 53 |
| Percussion Instruments | 35 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Design & Applied Arts | 38,798 |
| Fine & Studio Arts | 37,770 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 18,927 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 16,640 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 7,225 |
References
*The average salary above is for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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