Top Music Colleges, Schools and Universities
Students interested in a career in music can pursue undergraduate and graduate degree programs in music performance, direction, instruction and composition. Several of the top ranked national universities offer well-respected music programs, as well as specialized fine arts and music schools.
Top Colleges and Universities for Music
1. Harvard University in Cambridge, MA
In 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranked Harvard University number one among the best national universities, making this 4-year private institution the highest-ranked school to offer a music program. Harvard University's Department of Music offers both undergraduate and graduate programs, including a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Music, a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Performance Practice and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in several areas of emphasis such as music theory, composition, ethnomusicology or historical musicology. In addition to practice rooms and a music library, the Department of Music houses the John Knowles Paine Concert Hall and the Harvard University Studio for Electroacoustic Composition (HUSEAC).
2. Princeton University in Princeton, NJ
Princeton University, another school in the Ivy League, ranked second among national universities by U.S. News and World Report in the Best Colleges Ranking of 2011. This 4-year private university hosts a Department of Music, which offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. At the undergraduate level, students can pursue a bachelor's degree in music with an emphasis on writing music. A Certificate in Musical Performance and a Certificate in Jazz Studies programs are also offered. At the graduate level, students can pursue a Ph.D. in Musicology or Composition. There is also a performers-in-residence program named after the composer Edward T. Cone, which currently hosts the Brentano String Quartet.
3. Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA
The Berklee College of Music is a well-regarded music specialty school founded in 1945 and currently hosting over 4,100 students with a passion for music. Berklee offers students 12 different majors that include composition, contemporary writing and production, electronic production and design, film scoring, jazz composition, music business and management, music education, music production and engineering, music therapy, performance, professional music and songwriting. These majors are offered as 4-year bachelor's degrees or 4-year professional diplomas; however, there is also an accelerated Master of Business Administration (MBA) program offered in conjunction with the Suffolk University for students in the music business and management program.
List of Ten Good Music Colleges, Schools and Universities
| School Name | Distinction | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Berklee College of Music | Unique international college that offers 12 music majors | Boston, MA |
| Cornell University | Cornell Gamelan Ensemble | Ithaca, NY |
| Duke University | Nine distinctive student performing ensembles | Durham, NC |
| Harvard University | Facilities available to music students such as the Ethnomusicology Lab or the HUSEAC | Cambridge, MA |
| Juilliard School | New historical performance program established in 2009 | New York, NY |
| University of Notre Dame | Interdisciplinary Master of Sacred Music program | Notre Dame, IN |
| Princeton University | The Edward T. Cone Performers-in-Residence program | Princeton, NJ |
| University of California - Berkeley | Center for New Music and Audio Technologies (CNMAT) | Berkeley, CA |
| University of Chicago | The EthNoise! and Perception and Understanding of Music workshops offered through the Department of Music | Chicago, IL |
| Vanderbilt University | The Pre-College and Adult Program in music | Nashville, TN |
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6 Popular Schools
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
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Master
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- MA in Music and Worship Studies
- MA in Ethnomusicology
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- Master of Arts in Worship - Ethnomusicology
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Florida (1 campus)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Florida (1 campus)
- Nevada (1 campus)
Classroom-Based Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Georgia (1 campus)
Classroom-Based Programs
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School locations:
- California (5 campuses)
- Colorado (1 campus)
- Florida (1)
- Georgia (1)
- Illinois (2)
- Massachusetts (1)
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota (1)
- Nevada (1)
- Pennsylvania (1)
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (3)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (1)
Classroom-Based Programs
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Bachelor
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- Bachelor in Audio & Media Technology
- Bachelor in Audio Production
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- Bachelor in Audio Design Technology
- Bachelor in Sound & Motion Picture Technical Arts
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Associate
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- Associate in Audio Production
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Non-Degree
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- Certificate in Audio Production
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
School locations:
- Online Learning
Distance Learning Programs
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Non-Degree
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- Career Diploma in Artist: Comprehensive
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Other Schools:
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School locations:
- Iowa (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Iowa State University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Design and Applied Arts
- Musical Arts
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School locations:
- Michigan (2 campuses)
Areas of study you may find at University of Michigan include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Art
- Musical Arts
- Music Performing
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School locations:
- Florida (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of South Florida include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Dance
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Art
- Musical Arts
- Music Performing
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School locations:
- Texas (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Texas Tech University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Dance
- Design and Applied Arts
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Art
- Musical Arts
- Music Composition and Theory
- Music Pedagogy
- Music Performing
- Musical Conducting
- Musicology and Ethnomusicology
- Piano and Organ
