Top Rated Music Colleges in the United States
Students searching for top rated music colleges have a wide variety of options, including private schools, conservatories and state universities. Degree programs are offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in many areas from performance to music education. Style ranges can be found from classical and jazz to folk and popular music.
Top Music Colleges
1. Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD
U.S. News & World Report ranked Johns Hopkins University 13th among national universities in the U.S. News Best Colleges Rankings in 2011. The music school program is located in the Peabody Conservatory within the Peabody Institute of The John Hopkins University.
The conservatory offers jazz and classical music students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Music (B.M.), a Master of Music (M.M.) and a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in music performance, music education, composition, computer music and early music. A Master of Arts (M.A.) in Audio Sciences is also offered along with a 5-year B.M./M.M combined degree program and three performance-focused programs that include a performance certificate, a graduate performance diploma and an artist diploma.
2. New England Conservatory in Boston, MA
Founded in 1867, the New England Conservatory is the oldest independent music conservatory in the nation; it was a founding member of the National Association of Schools of Music. It provides undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as continuing education and distance learning opportunities.
The school offers programs leading to the B.M., the M.M. and the D.M.A. degrees in a wide variety of areas including voice, jazz, composition, orchestral instruments, music history, world music and music theory. Students can also take advantage of the chamber ensemble music programs, along with the Abreu Fellows program for post-graduates.
3. University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is one of the largest public universities in the U.S., serving over 51,000 students as of 2011 through 17 colleges and schools spread across the university. The Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music is the place where students study various areas of music, including chamber music, composition, conducting, jazz, ethnomusicology, piano and keyboard, theory and vocal arts. B.M., M.M. and D.M.A. degree programs are offered to students enrolled in the Butler School of Music. Students are also able to join and audition for 44 different ensembles of various styles including jazz, orchestra, marimba, Brazilian and Svaranjali.
List of Ten Good Music Colleges in the U.S.
| School Name | Distinction | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Berklee College of Music | Focused study areas that include Africana Studies, American Roots Music and the Berklee Global Jazz Institute | Boston, MA |
| Johns Hopkins University | Three types of curricular study that include individual study, group study and program study | Baltimore, MD |
| Michigan State University | The Musique 21 ensemble for contemporary music | East Lansing, MI |
| New England Conservatory | Degree programs offered in conjunction with Harvard College and Tufts University | Boston, MA |
| Oberlin College & Conservatory | Offers a summer music training program in Arezzo, Italy | Oberlin, OH |
| Ohio State University | Music/Dance Library | Columbus, OH |
| San Francisco Conservatory of Music | BluePrint music project founded by local artist Nicole Paiement | San Francisco, CA |
| University of Texas at Austin | Butler Opera Center | Austin, TX |
| University of Wisconsin - Madison | Collaborative piano and piano pedagogy master's degree programs | Madison, WI |
| Yale University | 5-year Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)/M.M. combined degree program | New Haven, CT |
What Educational Options are Available for Musicians and Singers?
Those interested in pursuing a music career can attend a music program at a public or private university or college. Studies in music typically lead to the awarding of B.F.A. (Bachelor of Fine Arts) or M.F.A. (Master of Fine Arts) degrees.
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4 Popular Schools
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
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School locations:
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Master
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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:
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- 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)
- Tennessee (1)
Classroom-Based Programs
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Bachelor
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Other Recommended 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
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School locations:
- Michigan (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Grand Valley State University include:
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- Graduate: Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Dance
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Art
- Musical Arts
- Photography, Film, and Video
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School locations:
- Arizona (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Northern Arizona University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate Master
- Non-Degree: Certificate
- Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Design and Applied Arts
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Art
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