Jazz Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Jazz Studies is a specialized academic discipline focused on the advanced development of performance, composition, and analytical skills within the jazz tradition. Students engage deeply with the genre’s historical evolution, technical foundations, and creative expression across a range of instrumental and vocal contexts.
- History of Jazz and Related Genres: Explores the cultural, social, and musical development of jazz from its roots in African American communities through major stylistic movements such as swing, bebop, cool jazz, fusion, and contemporary forms, including its relationship with the Blues and other American vernacular music traditions.
- Jazz Composition and Theory: Develops the ability to create original jazz works using harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic structures characteristic of the genre, with emphasis on form, voicing, and stylistic authenticity.
- Improvisation Techniques: Trains students in real-time musical creativity, focusing on harmonic navigation, motivic development, stylistic phrasing, and expressive communication through spontaneous performance.
- Jazz Instrumental and Vocal Performance: Provides intensive training in advanced techniques, tone production, articulation, and expressive interpretation on specific instruments or voice within jazz ensembles and solo settings.
- Ensemble Collaboration and Performance: Emphasizes the dynamics of group interaction, listening, role clarity, and coordinated performance in small groups, big bands, and other jazz ensemble formats.
Jazz Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Jazz Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Jazz Studies degrees, including Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 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 136,240 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 |
| Musicians and Singers 27-2042 | N/A | N/A | 38,350 | $42.45 |
Jazz Studies Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $49,520 in Nevada to $129,330 in Hawaii—a 161% difference. The highest-paying states include Hawaii, New York, and California. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 136,240 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 Jazz Studies by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 60 institutions offering Jazz Studies 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 Jazz Studies is found at University of North Texas (UNT) (53 graduates), The New School (51 graduates), Manhattan School of Music (MSM) (43 graduates), The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) (24 graduates), and University of Miami (UM) (23 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 523 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
53 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| The New School |
Bachelor's
|
51 | New York, New York | Private | newschool.edu |
| Manhattan School of Music (MSM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
43 | New York, New York | Private | msmnyc.edu |
| The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
24 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | necmusic.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
23 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Oberlin College |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Oberlin, Ohio | Private | oberlin.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
19 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
18 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| The Juilliard School |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 | New York, New York | Private | juilliard.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| SUNY |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Purchase, New York | Public | purchase.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Master's
|
13 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UAM) |
Master's
|
12 | Monticello, Arkansas | Public | uamont.edu |
| California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | Valencia, California | Private | calarts.edu |
| DePaul University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| CUNY City College (CCNY) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | New York, New York | Public | ccny.cuny.edu |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Public | uco.edu |
| University of Hartford (UHart) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
8 | West Hartford, Connecticut | Private | hartford.edu |
| San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | San Francisco, California | Private | sfcm.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| Loyola University New Orleans (LOYNO) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | loyno.edu |
| Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music (CMPR) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | cmpr.edu |
| University of North Florida (UNF) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | unf.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMBC) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umbc.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| Ithaca College (IC) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Ithaca, New York | Private | ithaca.edu |
| North Carolina Central University (NCCU) |
Master's
|
4 | Durham, North Carolina | Public | nccu.edu |
| University of West Georgia (UWG) |
Other Award
|
3 | Carrollton, Georgia | Public | westga.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Moorhead, Minnesota | Public | mnstate.edu |
| University of Missouri (UMKC) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Kansas City, Missouri | Public | umkc.edu |
| Rowan University |
Other Award
|
3 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| University of North Carolina Asheville (UNCA) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Asheville, North Carolina | Public | unca.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
3 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Elmhurst University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Elmhurst, Illinois | Private | elmhurst.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
2 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| Jacksonville University (JU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Jacksonville, Florida | Private | ju.edu |
| Columbus State University |
Other Award
|
1 | Columbus, Georgia | Public | columbusstate.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| University of Indianapolis (UIndy) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | uindy.edu |
| Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | xula.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| Capital University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | capital.edu |
| Central State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Wilberforce, Ohio | Public | centralstate.edu |
| Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Master's
|
1 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | West Chester, Pennsylvania | Public | wcupa.edu |
| University of Wyoming (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Laramie, Wyoming | Public | uwyo.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Jazz Studies programs
How much can I earn with a Jazz Studies degree?
Salaries for Jazz Studies graduates vary by role and location. Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $80,190 annually, while Musicians and Singers earn around $0. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Hawaii average $129,330 compared to $49,520 in Nevada. Approximately 136,240 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 Jazz Studies programs?
Currently 60 accredited institutions offer Jazz Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of North Texas (UNT) (53 graduates), The New School (51 graduates), and Manhattan School of Music (MSM) (43 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 Jazz Studies growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 453 in 2010 to a peak of 532 in 2020, before declining slightly to 523 in 2023-24. This represents a 15% 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 Jazz Studies degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Musicians and Singers, . Related occupations employ approximately 136,240 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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