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 |
Salary Comparison
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 | Admissions | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan School of Music (MSM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
95 | N/A | New York, New York | Private | msmnyc.edu |
| Longy School of Music of Bard College |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
34 | N/A | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | longy.edu |
| Rider University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
31 |
SAT: 1100-1310 ACT: 22-29 |
Lawrenceville, New Jersey | Private | rider.edu |
| The New School |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
31 | N/A | New York, New York | Private | newschool.edu |
| San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
28 | N/A | San Francisco, California | Private | sfcm.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
27 |
SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 32-35 |
Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
24 |
SAT: 1490-1560 ACT: 33-35 |
Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
24 | N/A | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | necmusic.edu |
| The Juilliard School |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
24 | N/A | New York, New York | Private | juilliard.edu |
| University of Hartford (UHart) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
18 |
SAT: 1100-1280 ACT: 25-32 |
West Hartford, Connecticut | Private | hartford.edu |
| Roosevelt University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 |
SAT: 820-1090 ACT: 21-29 |
Chicago, Illinois | Private | roosevelt.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
Other Award
|
16 |
SAT: 1330-1470 ACT: 30-33 |
Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Postbac Cert.
|
15 |
SAT: 1170-1400 ACT: 27-32 |
Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
|
15 |
SAT: 1480-1570 ACT: 33-35 |
New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Rice University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-36 |
Houston, Texas | Private | rice.edu |
| Yale University |
Master's
|
13 |
SAT: 1500-1580 ACT: 33-35 |
New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Bachelor's
|
11 |
SAT: 1150-1360 ACT: 24-29 |
Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Loyola University New Orleans (LOYNO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | N/A | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | loyno.edu |
| Baldwin Wallace University (BW) |
Bachelor's
|
9 |
SAT: 1050-1285 ACT: 20-27 |
Berea, Ohio | Private | bw.edu |
| Samford University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
8 |
SAT: 1070-1260 ACT: 23-29 |
Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
| Chapman University |
Bachelor's
|
8 |
SAT: 1250-1430 ACT: 28-32 |
Orange, California | Private | chapman.edu |
| Los Angeles College of Music (LACM) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
8 | N/A | Pasadena, California | Private | lacm.edu |
| University of Redlands |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 |
SAT: 1078-1323 ACT: 25-30 |
Redlands, California | Private | redlands.edu |
| The Catholic University of America |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
6 | N/A | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | catholic.edu |
| Stetson University |
Bachelor's
|
6 |
SAT: 1090-1290 ACT: 23-29 |
DeLand, Florida | Private | stetson.edu |
| Copiah-Lincoln Community College (Co-Lin) |
Associate's
|
6 | N/A | Wesson, Mississippi | Public | colin.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 |
SAT: 1510-1560 ACT: 34-35 |
Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| Texas Christian University (TCU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
6 |
SAT: 1150-1375 ACT: 26-31 |
Fort Worth, Texas | Private | tcu.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 |
SAT: 1290-1450 ACT: 28-32 |
Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Liberty University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | N/A | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music (CMPR) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | N/A | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | cmpr.edu |
| University of Mobile |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
5 | ACT: 21-27 | Mobile, Alabama | Private | umobile.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 |
SAT: 990-1220 ACT: 20-27 |
Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| SUNY |
Bachelor's
|
5 |
SAT: 1178-1363 ACT: 27-32 |
Purchase, New York | Public | purchase.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
5 |
SAT: 1260-1430 ACT: 28-32 |
Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | N/A | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
4 |
SAT: 1200-1360 ACT: 27-31 |
Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Bachelor's
|
4 |
SAT: 1160-1340 ACT: 27-31 |
Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 |
SAT: 970-1250 ACT: 18-26 |
Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| University of Akron |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 |
SAT: 950-1190 ACT: 18-25 |
Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 |
SAT: 1320-1480 ACT: 30-34 |
Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Master's
|
3 |
SAT: 1240-1390 ACT: 27-31 |
Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 |
SAT: 1400-1520 ACT: 32-34 |
Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 960-1210 ACT: 21-27 |
Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| William Jewell College |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 |
SAT: 960-1120 ACT: 19-25 |
Liberty, Missouri | Private | jewell.edu |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | ACT: 17-24 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Public | uco.edu |
| Oklahoma City University (OCU) |
Master's
|
3 | ACT: 20-26 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Private | okcu.edu |
| Abilene Christian University (ACU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1060-1290 ACT: 22-28 |
Abilene, Texas | Private | acu.edu |
| Houston Christian University (HCU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 970-1200 ACT: 19-28 |
Houston, Texas | Private | hc.edu |
| University of Puget Sound (UPS) |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1185-1390 ACT: 27-31 |
Tacoma, Washington | Private | pugetsound.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
3 | N/A | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Shorter University |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 900-1130 ACT: 17-23 |
Rome, Georgia | Private | shorter.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 950-1200 ACT: 20-29 |
Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1270-1510 ACT: 29-34 |
Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1140-1330 ACT: 24-29 |
Bloomington, Illinois | Private | iwu.edu |
| North Park University |
Master's
|
2 | N/A | Chicago, Illinois | Private | northpark.edu |
| Mississippi College (MC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | ACT: 19-26 | Clinton, Mississippi | Private | mc.edu |
| Meredith College |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1110-1260 ACT: 23-30 |
Raleigh, North Carolina | Private | meredith.edu |
| University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) |
Post-Master's
|
2 |
SAT: 1150-1350 ACT: 24-27 |
Winston Salem, North Carolina | Public | uncsa.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1100-1290 ACT: 22-28 |
Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Temple University |
Master's
|
2 | N/A | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Belmont University |
Master's
|
2 |
SAT: 1160-1350 ACT: 23-30 |
Nashville, Tennessee | Private | belmont.edu |
| Trinity University |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1320-1465 ACT: 30-33 |
San Antonio, Texas | Private | new.trinity.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | N/A | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| Carthage College |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1000-1205 ACT: 19-26 |
Kenosha, Wisconsin | Private | carthage.edu |
| Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1060-1290 ACT: 21-28 |
Arkadelphia, Arkansas | Private | obu.edu |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 970-1210 ACT: 19-26 |
West Palm Beach, Florida | Private | pba.edu |
| Reinhardt University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | N/A | Waleska, Georgia | Private | reinhardt.edu |
| Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 940-1210 ACT: 25-31 |
Nampa, Idaho | Private | nnu.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 |
SAT: 1080-1290 ACT: 21-28 |
Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Hope College |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1090-1310 ACT: 26-31 |
Holland, Michigan | Private | hope.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Master's
|
1 | SAT: 995-1185 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| York University |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 845-1060 ACT: 16-23 |
York, Nebraska | Private | york.edu |
| University of Mount Olive (UMO) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | ACT: 17-22 | Mount Olive, North Carolina | Private | umo.edu |
| Capital University |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 980-1190 ACT: 18-25 |
Columbus, Ohio | Private | capital.edu |
| Charleston Southern University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 950-1160 ACT: 17-24 |
Charleston, South Carolina | Private | charlestonsouthern.edu |
| Bob Jones University (BJU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | N/A | Greenville, South Carolina | Private | bju.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 |
SAT: 1090-1270 ACT: 22-28 |
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.
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