Music: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Music is a dynamic and multifaceted field dedicated to the study, creation, performance, and analysis of sound as an art form. This comprehensive program provides a broad foundation in musical theory, practice, and cultural context, preparing students for diverse careers in performance, composition, education, and the arts industry.
- Music Theory and Analysis: Explores the structural elements of music, including harmony, counterpoint, form, and notation, enabling students to interpret and compose complex musical works.
- Performance Practice: Focuses on developing technical proficiency and expressive interpretation across various instruments, voice, or ensemble settings, with emphasis on rehearsal techniques and stage presence.
- Composition and Arrangement: Encourages original musical creation through the use of notation software, improvisation, and stylistic experimentation across genres and historical periods.
- Music History and Cultures: Traces the evolution of music across time and regions, examining how social, political, and technological forces have shaped musical expression worldwide.
- Recording and Technology: Introduces digital audio workstations, sound engineering, and multimedia applications, equipping students with modern tools for music production and distribution.
- Music Education and Pedagogy: Prepares future educators with methodologies for teaching music in K–12 settings, including curriculum design, classroom management, and inclusive teaching strategies.
Music Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Music Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Music 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 |
Music 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 Music by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 91 institutions offering Music 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 Music is found at Berklee College of Music (285 graduates), Belmont University (104 graduates), Liberty University (67 graduates), New York University (NYU) (49 graduates), and University of Miami (UM) (36 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,141 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berklee College of Music |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Master's
|
285 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | berklee.edu |
| Belmont University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
104 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | belmont.edu |
| Liberty University |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
67 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
|
49 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Capital University |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | capital.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
26 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Columbia College Chicago (CCC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
25 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | colum.edu |
| The University of Montana (UM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | Missoula, Montana | Public | umt.edu |
| Oberlin College |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Oberlin, Ohio | Private | oberlin.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Master's
|
19 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| Wesleyan University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 | Middletown, Connecticut | Private | wesleyan.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Master's
|
17 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Lipscomb University |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | lipscomb.edu |
| County College of Morris (CCM) |
Associate's
|
16 | Randolph, New Jersey | Public | ccm.edu |
| Concordia University (CUI) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Irvine, California | Private | cui.edu |
| Musicians Institute (MI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
14 | Hollywood, California | Private | mi.edu |
| Honolulu Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
|
14 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | honolulu.hawaii.edu |
| Long Island University (LIU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Brookville, New York | Private | liu.edu |
| Mercy University |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Dobbs Ferry, New York | Private | mercy.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Vermont State University (VTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Randolph, Vermont | Public | vermontstate.edu |
| Biola University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | La Mirada, California | Private | biola.edu |
| Stetson University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | DeLand, Florida | Private | stetson.edu |
| The Juilliard School |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
11 | New York, New York | Private | juilliard.edu |
| Duquesne University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | duq.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| Brookdale Community College |
Associate's
|
10 | Lincroft, New Jersey | Public | brookdalecc.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
9 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| University of North Georgia (UNG) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Dahlonega, Georgia | Public | ung.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Martin, Tennessee | Public | utm.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Nashville State Community College (NSCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Nashville, Tennessee | Public | nscc.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Wheaton College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Wheaton, Illinois | Private | wheaton.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Master's
|
6 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| Houghton University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Houghton, New York | Private | houghton.edu |
| Lee University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Cleveland, Tennessee | Private | leeuniversity.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Public | uccs.edu |
| DePaul University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| Judson University |
Master's
|
5 | Elgin, Illinois | Private | judsonu.edu |
| Elon University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Elon, North Carolina | Private | elon.edu |
| George Mason University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Northwest University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Kirkland, Washington | Private | northwestu.edu |
| John C Calhoun State Community College |
Associate's
|
4 | Tanner, Alabama | Public | calhoun.edu |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus |
Master's
|
4 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ucdenver.edu |
| University of Louisiana (ULM) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Monroe, Louisiana | Public | ulm.edu |
| Salem College |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Private | salem.edu |
| Marietta College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Marietta, Ohio | Private | marietta.edu |
| Trevecca Nazarene University (TNU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | trevecca.edu |
| Dallas Baptist University (DBU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Dallas, Texas | Private | dbu.edu |
| Alverno College |
Master's
|
4 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | alverno.edu |
| Greenville University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Greenville, Illinois | Private | greenville.edu |
| Grace College and Theological Seminary |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Winona Lake, Indiana | Private | grace.edu |
| Bethel College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | North Newton, Kansas | Private | bethelks.edu |
| Otterbein University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Westerville, Ohio | Private | otterbein.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
2 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| Mercer University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Macon, Georgia | Private | mercer.edu |
| Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Nampa, Idaho | Private | nnu.edu |
| Morehead State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Morehead, Kentucky | Public | moreheadstate.edu |
| Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Fayette, Missouri | Private | centralmethodist.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| Tiffin University (TU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Tiffin, Ohio | Private | tiffin.edu |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania |
Other Award
|
2 | Millersville, Pennsylvania | Public | millersville.edu |
| Newberry College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Newberry, South Carolina | Private | newberry.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Yale University |
Doctorate (Other)
|
1 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| Hobe Sound Bible College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Hobe Sound, Florida | Private | hsbc.edu |
| McKendree University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Lebanon, Illinois | Private | mckendree.edu |
| Trinity Christian College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Palos Heights, Illinois | Private | trnty.edu |
| Saint Meinrad School of Theology |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | St. Meinrad, Indiana | Private | saintmeinrad.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Cornerstone University (CU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Private | cornerstone.edu |
| Henry Ford College (HFC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | hfcc.edu |
| St Olaf College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Northfield, Minnesota | Private | wp.stolaf.edu |
| Mississippi Delta Community College (MDCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Moorhead, Mississippi | Public | msdelta.edu |
| Webster University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | webster.edu |
| Owens Community College (OCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Perrysburg, Ohio | Public | owens.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Western Oregon University (WOU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Monmouth, Oregon | Public | wou.edu |
| Messiah University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania | Private | messiah.edu |
| Seton Hill University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Greensburg, Pennsylvania | Private | setonhill.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | Public | uscupstate.edu |
| Regent University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | regent.edu |
| Glenville State University (GSU) |
Other Award
|
1 | Glenville, West Virginia | Public | glenville.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Music programs
How much can I earn with a Music degree?
Salaries for Music 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 Music programs?
Currently 92 accredited institutions offer Music degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Berklee College of Music (285 graduates), Belmont University (104 graduates), and Liberty University (67 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 Music growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 1,517 in 2010 to a peak of 1,262 in 2020, before declining slightly to 1,141 in 2023-24. This represents a 25% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, 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 Music 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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