Voice and Opera Performance: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for aspiring vocal artists, this program cultivates advanced proficiency in voice production and stage performance, preparing students for professional careers in opera, concert performance, choral ensembles, and other vocal art forms. Through intensive training and artistic development, students refine their technical mastery, expressive capabilities, and interpretive depth.
- Voice pedagogy: Study of scientifically grounded techniques for vocal production, breath control, and vocal health to support sustainable and expressive singing.
- Diction and language: Mastery of pronunciation, articulation, and linguistic nuances in multiple languages essential for accurate and emotionally resonant performance.
- Vocal physiology and exercise: In-depth exploration of the anatomical and physiological foundations of vocal function, paired with targeted vocal warm-ups and conditioning.
- Expressive movement: Integration of stage presence, physical expression, and gesture to enhance storytelling and audience connection during performance.
- Repertoire development: Curated study and performance of diverse vocal works across historical periods, styles, and cultural traditions.
- Recital performance: Structured presentation of solo and ensemble works in formal settings, emphasizing stagecraft, audience engagement, and professional readiness.
- Personal style development: Guidance in cultivating a distinctive artistic identity through interpretation, vocal color, and individualized performance choices.
Voice and Opera Performance Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Voice and Opera Performance Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Voice and Opera Performance degrees, including Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Music Directors and Composers and Musicians and Singers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 148,570 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1121 | $80,190 | $47,040 - $194,530 | 97,890 | N/A |
| Music Directors and Composers 27-2041 | $63,670 | $34,990 - $157,010 | 12,330 | $30.61 |
| Musicians and Singers 27-2042 | N/A | N/A | 38,350 | $42.45 |
Voice and Opera Performance Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $48,215 in Alabama to $103,385 in Hawaii—a 114% difference. The highest-paying states include Hawaii, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 148,570 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Voice and Opera Performance by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 79 institutions offering Voice and Opera Performance programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Voice and Opera Performance is found at Manhattan School of Music (MSM) (95 graduates), Longy School of Music of Bard College (34 graduates), Rider University (31 graduates), The New School (31 graduates), and San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) (28 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 668 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan School of Music (MSM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
95 | New York, New York | Private | msmnyc.edu |
| Longy School of Music of Bard College |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
34 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | longy.edu |
| Rider University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
31 | Lawrenceville, New Jersey | Private | rider.edu |
| The New School |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
31 | New York, New York | Private | newschool.edu |
| San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
28 | San Francisco, California | Private | sfcm.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
27 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
24 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
24 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | necmusic.edu |
| The Juilliard School |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
24 | New York, New York | Private | juilliard.edu |
| University of Hartford (UHart) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
18 | West Hartford, Connecticut | Private | hartford.edu |
| Roosevelt University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | roosevelt.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
16 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Postbac Cert.
|
15 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
|
15 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Rice University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Houston, Texas | Private | rice.edu |
| Yale University |
Master's
|
13 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Loyola University New Orleans (LOYNO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | loyno.edu |
| Baldwin Wallace University (BW) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Berea, Ohio | Private | bw.edu |
| Samford University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
8 | Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
| Chapman University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Orange, California | Private | chapman.edu |
| Los Angeles College of Music (LACM) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
8 | Pasadena, California | Private | lacm.edu |
| University of Redlands |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 | Redlands, California | Private | redlands.edu |
| The Catholic University of America |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | catholic.edu |
| Stetson University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | DeLand, Florida | Private | stetson.edu |
| Copiah-Lincoln Community College (Co-Lin) |
Associate's
|
6 | Wesson, Mississippi | Public | colin.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| Texas Christian University (TCU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
6 | Fort Worth, Texas | Private | tcu.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Liberty University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music (CMPR) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | cmpr.edu |
| University of Mobile |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
5 | Mobile, Alabama | Private | umobile.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| SUNY |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Purchase, New York | Public | purchase.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
5 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| University of Akron |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 | Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Master's
|
3 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| William Jewell College |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Liberty, Missouri | Private | jewell.edu |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Public | uco.edu |
| Oklahoma City University (OCU) |
Master's
|
3 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Private | okcu.edu |
| Abilene Christian University (ACU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Abilene, Texas | Private | acu.edu |
| Houston Christian University (HCU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Houston, Texas | Private | hc.edu |
| University of Puget Sound (UPS) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Tacoma, Washington | Private | pugetsound.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Shorter University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Rome, Georgia | Private | shorter.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Bloomington, Illinois | Private | iwu.edu |
| North Park University |
Master's
|
2 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | northpark.edu |
| Mississippi College (MC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Clinton, Mississippi | Private | mc.edu |
| Meredith College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Private | meredith.edu |
| University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) |
Post-Master's
|
2 | Winston Salem, North Carolina | Public | uncsa.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Temple University |
Master's
|
2 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Belmont University |
Master's
|
2 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | belmont.edu |
| Trinity University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | new.trinity.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| Carthage College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Kenosha, Wisconsin | Private | carthage.edu |
| Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Arkadelphia, Arkansas | Private | obu.edu |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | West Palm Beach, Florida | Private | pba.edu |
| Reinhardt University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Waleska, Georgia | Private | reinhardt.edu |
| Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Nampa, Idaho | Private | nnu.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Hope College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Holland, Michigan | Private | hope.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Master's
|
1 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| York University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | York, Nebraska | Private | york.edu |
| University of Mount Olive (UMO) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Mount Olive, North Carolina | Private | umo.edu |
| Capital University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | capital.edu |
| Charleston Southern University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Charleston, South Carolina | Private | charlestonsouthern.edu |
| Bob Jones University (BJU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Greenville, South Carolina | Private | bju.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Voice and Opera Performance programs
How much can I earn with a Voice and Opera Performance degree?
Salaries for Voice and Opera Performance graduates vary by role and location. Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $80,190 annually, while Music Directors and Composers earn around $63,670. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Hawaii average $103,385 compared to $48,215 in Alabama. Approximately 148,570 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Voice and Opera Performance programs?
Currently 79 accredited institutions offer Voice and Opera Performance degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Manhattan School of Music (MSM) (95 graduates), Longy School of Music of Bard College (34 graduates), and Rider University (31 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Voice and Opera Performance growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 615 in 2010 to a peak of 722 in 2020, before declining slightly to 668 in 2023-24. This represents a 9% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Voice and Opera Performance degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Music Directors and Composers, and Musicians and Singers. Related occupations employ approximately 148,570 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
Related Arts Programs
Explore similar degree programs within the Arts field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.
Comedy Writing and Performance
A program that focuses on the historical, cultural, and theoretical dimensions of comedy as an art form, and the writing, performance, and production...
Theatre and Dance
A program of study that focuses on integrating the studies of dance and theatre arts to provide perspectives in all facets of production,...
Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Any instructional program in dramatic/theatre arts and stagecraft not listed above.
Film and Media Studies
A program in the visual arts that focuses on the study of the history, development, theory, and criticism of the film/media arts, as...
Cinematography and Film Production
A program that prepares individuals to communicate dramatic information, ideas, moods, and feelings through the making and producing of films and videos. Includes...
Photography
A program that focuses on the principles and techniques of communicating information, ideas, moods, and feelings through the creation of images on photographic...