44 Best Music Schools | 2022 Rankings (2023)

An associate’s degree in music is a 2-year undergraduate program that focuses on core general education and music courses. These degrees are offered by a variety of community colleges, technical schools, and universities. Some programs are strong in performance and production, with famous music professionals on the faculty; other programs are built around music education or sound engineering. Regardless of the program, a high school diploma or GED is needed to apply. A lot of schools will also require you to pass an audition.

What to Know About Transferring Credits

The AA is the equivalent of the first two years of a bachelor’s degree, and many music students use it to earn credits for a BMus or a related undergraduate degree. If you’re thinking of this option, check that your community college is recognized by and/or has an articulation agreement with the 4-year school you’re interested in. In other words, you want to make sure your credits will be transferable.

We advise this because some colleges and universities won’t accept credits from a community college with weak music theory and skills courses. In addition, even if there is an articulation agreement in place, you will have to apply and audition again. Students in AA/BA programs may find it easier to complete their bachelor’s degree in 4 years than students in AA/BMus programs, who have to complete rigorous theory and ensemble/lesson courses.

Degree Choices

• Associate of Arts (AA) in Music: The typical choice for students interested in transferring to a BA or BMus at a 4-year university.
• Associate of Science (AS) in Music: An option for students interested in transferring to a BS, BMus, or related degree. The curriculum may include more business, technology, and science courses than the AA.
• Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) in Music: A practical degree that can prepare students for immediate professional work or transfer to a 4-year BFA program.
• Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Music: A practice-focused degree that is often offered in areas such as music technology, sound production, and music business. This is intended for students who wish to go straight into the workforce after graduation.

Sample Coursework

Every associate program has a different curriculum, but for the AA and the AS, you can expect a combination of general education requirements, foundational music courses (theory and musicianship), and performance requirements (e.g. lessons and ensemble work). Depending on your area of interest, you may be required to take specific classes. For example:

• Performance/Composition: Music appreciation, music theory, performance techniques, practicums, etc.
• Music Education: Curriculum development, instructional methods, music therapy, evaluation techniques, etc.
• Music Business: Music industry, sound production, music marketing, etc.

If you’re thinking of transferring to a 4-year school, concentrate on fulfilling the necessary general education requirements and taking rigorous music theory and musicianship classes. This will put you in a good position for your third and fourth years.

Career Opportunities

You don’t need a bachelor’s degree to have a career in music. For example, in order to become a recording musician or sound engineer, you may only require an AAS or the equivalent. Associate graduates have also found work as musicians in performing arts companies, bands, and religious/civic organizations.

On the other hand, if you’re interested in becoming a music teacher, music therapist, opera singer, or classical performer, you should be prepared to invest in a 4-year degree.

A bachelor’s degree in music is a challenging 4-year undergraduate program that is designed to give students a comprehensive education in music theory and practice. Most bachelor programs are a mixture of general education requirements and courses in a music major. Baccalaureate programs are offered by a wide range of conservatories and traditional colleges/universities. A high school diploma or GED and proficiency in vocal work and/or instruments are required to apply. A lot of programs will require you to pass an audition before they accept you.

How to Choose a Degree

Choosing a music degree can be a pain in the butt. Each school will have a unique program and unique majors. You may find yourself comparing a performance-based BA in Music from a conventional university with a BMus from a well-known conservatory. The trick is to concentrate on your area of interest/major (e.g. performance, engineering, music therapy, etc.) and look for programs that have:

• Well-known and respected music teachers
• A strong reputation in your field (e.g. jazz, contemporary music, classical, etc.). Ask your mentors, peers, and career advisers for their opinions.
• Opportunities to build your network and career contacts
• Internships and practicums (e.g. live performances) that will prepare you for jobs after graduation

Degree Choices

Bachelor of Music (BM or BMus)

The BMus is an intensive, professional music degree. It comes in a variety of flavors, including performance, composition, technology, business, music production, and more. Regardless of its focus, the BMus is heavily concentrated on musicianship and performing, with rigorous courses in theory, history, and applied music. Recitals are often part of the third and/or fourth years. If you are thinking of becoming a practicing musician (instrument, voice, or conducting), you should be looking at the BMus or the BFA.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

Like the BMus, the BFA is an intensive music degree that is intended to produce professional musicians. Most of the curriculum is devoted to core courses in music theory and performance. As with the BMus, you may be expected to take part in performance ensembles and demonstrate your skills in recitals.

Bachelor of Music Education (BME)

The BME is intended for students who wish to teach music, either privately or in schools. In addition to fulfilling general education and liberal arts requirements, most BME majors are asked to specialize in a track (e.g. voice/choral, instrumental or general music). This training is supplemented with courses in areas such as music theory, music history, child psychology, classroom management, music technology, and conducting. The degree will include supervised student teaching experiences.

If you’re interested teaching at the K-12 level and directing high school bands, orchestras, and choirs in a public school, you must have a state teaching license. We talk more about this in our section on state licensure.

Bachelor of Music Therapy (BMT)

Musical therapists use clinical and evidence-based music interventions to help those with special needs, alleviate pain, and promote physical rehabilitation and wellness. Patients might include those with Alzheimer’s, PTSD, depression, autism spectrum disorders, and substance abuse problems. (Quick tip – you can learn about the field by asking to shadow a music therapist in your area.)

If this sounds like your kind of job, we recommend you earn a BMT from an AMTA-approved program. This degree will include core coursework in music, psychology, biology, social science, music therapy, and other classes related to disabilities, mental health, and medicine. BMT students are expected to be strong musicians with skills in a variety of instruments. You will also need to become board-certified after graduation – we talk more about this in our section on Music Therapy Certification.

Bachelor of Arts in Music (BA)

The BA is a broad liberal arts degree that mixes courses in music and musicianship with a wide variety of electives and general education classes. For the most part, the music requirements for a BA are much less stringent than the the BMus or BFA (1/4-1/3 of credits compared to 2/3-3/4 of credits). The BA is often pursued by students who have an interest in music (e.g. music business, music administration, arts management, etc.), but who do not wish to become professional musicians.

Bachelor of Science in Music (BS)

BS degrees in music are often offered by schools who wish to emphasize the technical or business side of the music industry. For example, you may find BS degrees with majors in recording technology, sound engineering, music production, and the like. BS degrees can also be offered in music education.

Double or Dual Degrees

In your search for programs, you may wish to consider a double or dual degree. This will allow you to combine your love for music with another relevant major (e.g. business). Universities that have music colleges or schools will often offer this option. You will also find some music conservatories have developed partner programs with universities (e.g. New England Conservatory + Tufts University). Be aware that a dual degree can take longer than four years to complete.

Common Music Majors

• Performance
• Theory & Composition
• Arts Management
• Church Music
• Popular Music
• Jazz Studies
• Musical Theater
• Music Business/Industry
• Music Technology/Engineering
• Music History

Talk to your undergraduate adviser about your options. Instead of targeting one specific area, you may be able to combine classes in a minor (e.g. jazz studies) with a major in a broader field (e.g. performance).

Career Opportunities

A strong bachelor of music from a well-regarded school is a good foundation for many jobs. Although you don’t need an academic qualification to become a rock musician or popular vocalist, a bachelor’s degree is the standard for classical singers and musicians. In addition, if you want to teach in public schools, you will either need a BME or a bachelor’s degree in music + a teaching degree or diploma. Here are some other jobs to consider:

Performance

• Professional musician
• Singer
• Accompanist
• Conductor

Education

• K-12 teacher
• Private music teacher
• Music therapist
• Band director
• Choir director
• Librarian

Composition

• Arranger
• Composer (films, commercials, internet, video games, etc.)
• Lyricist
• Orchestrator

Business/Administration

• Artist management
• Arts administrator
• Music producer
• Record label developer
• Music promoter
• Entertainment lawyer
• Event producer/planner
• Talent agent

Technology

• Software developer
• Studio manager
• Sound engineer
• Sound technician
• Acoustic engineer
• Audio producer/editor
• Recording engineer
• Instrument tuner/repairer

Interested in specialty areas such as library science? Hoping to teach music at a community college or university? Then you will need a graduate degree. The NAfME (National Association for Music Education) also recommends an advanced degree if you wish to work as a music consultant or music school administrator.

A master’s degree in music is a 1-3 year graduate program that allows student to pursue advanced studies in music. Eligibility will depend on your choice of program, but most schools will expect you to have an undergraduate degree in music (e.g. BMuS, BA, etc.) or a closely related field from an accredited program. We recommend you look at each school’s application requirements for precise details. For example:

• Music therapists should have board-certification before applying to a master’s programs.
• Potential MMus students must often pass an audition.
• Master’s programs in composition may require you to submit a portfolio of scores and recordings of live performances.

Students pursue a master’s degree because they are deeply interested in a field and/or wish to teach. Talk to your graduate adviser about your options. A master’s degree is not necessary for many music jobs.

Degree Options

• Master of Music (MM or MMus): A mixture of graduate-level coursework (e.g. music theory, music history, pedagogy, etc.) and intensive study in an area of specialization (e.g. composition, conducting, performance, music education, etc.). This is the baseline credential for music teaching positions at a university, college or conservatory.
• Master of Arts (MA) in Music: A general graduate degree aimed at students interested in careers related to music (e.g. arts administration). Music coursework might cover areas such as theory, musicology, ethnomusicology, and more.
• Master of Music Education (MME): A specialized degree often targeted at students who wish to teach music at the K-12 level. Coursework can cover areas such as music instructional techniques, student evaluation, teaching standards, musicology, and the like. If you are interested in this option, be sure your program is approved by your State Board of Education.
  
• Master of Music Therapy (MMT): An advanced clinical practice & research degree intended for board-certified music therapists. In the MMT, music therapists can deepen their skills in areas such as neurology, therapy, special needs, and medical disorders (e.g. multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, autism spectrum disorders, etc.). If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree in music therapy, you can look for degree equivalency programs in music therapy – these will allow you to complete preliminary coursework for the master’s without having to earn another undergraduate degree.

MMus Sample Coursework

Like the BMus, the MMus is focused on applied studies – i.e. intensive lessons, performance requirements, and working with a mentor. In addition to taking core courses in music theory, music teaching, and music history and specialized classes in your area of interest (e.g. Romantic-era violin, contemporary jazz, film composition, etc.), you may be spending a lot of your time practicing your craft.

In your final year, you will probably be asked to participate in a series of recitals (solo or with an ensemble), lectures, and showcases. Some programs will also require you to pass a comprehensive exam. All of this is intended to help you become a better musician and a qualified teacher/coach.

Career Opportunities

Master’s graduates become professional musicians, conductors, and composers. They may work as high-level administrators in non-profit organizations, the government, and schools, or they may take up jobs in supporting fields such as therapy. A master’s degree in music is the minimum requirement for teaching instrumental or vocal performance at community colleges and conservatories. If you want a tenured position as a music professor, you’ll need to consider a doctoral degree.

A doctorate in music is a 3-7 year advanced degree and the highest academic qualification you can achieve. Some universities offered combined master’s/doctorate programs for bachelor’s graduates. Other universities will expect you to hold a master’s degree before applying. Depending on your choice of program, you may be expected to submit a composition portfolio, provide examples of your expertise (e.g. live conducting), and/or pass an audition before you are accepted.

DMA programs are open to candidates with a MMus, an MA, or a closely related degree. PhD programs in musicology or music theory are often targeted at candidates with an MA in music. However, some PhD programs are willing to consider strong candidates with a MMus in performance or composition, so it’s always best to check.

Degree Options

• Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA): Typically a practical/performance-oriented degree offered in concentrations such as performance (with sub-specializations in pedagogy or literature), composition, and conducting. Graduates become professional musicians and/or teach and conduct research in universities.
• Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Music: Typically a research-oriented degree offered in concentrations such as music theory, music therapy, ethnomusicology, etc. Graduates are often involved in high-level research and university teaching.

One thing to note – although we’ve provided broad guidelines, there may not be a great deal of difference between a PhD in Music with a performance track and a DMA with research components. Because the lines are so blurry between the PhD and the DMA, we recommend that you check with each school for details on the aims of the program. In your search, you’ll also find similar degrees such as the Doctor of Music (DM or DMus) and Doctor of Arts (DA) in Music.

DMA Sample Coursework

The DMA curriculum is made up of advanced coursework in music theory and history, applied work in an area of specialization (e.g. composition) and sub-specializations (e.g. computer programming), individual music lessons/mentoring, and independent research. Some schools may also expect you to take classes in a second language.

During the first stage of your DMA, you’ll often be required to pass a series of comprehensive exams testing your overall knowledge (e.g. theory) and skills in your specialty (e.g. Baroque violin). After that, you’ll have more time to devote to original research. The degree usually culminates in a written dissertation, a research/capstone project, and/or lecture-recitals. If you’re interested in teaching, make sure your program includes opportunities for teaching assistantships and student lecturing.

Career Opportunities

If you wish to become a tenured professor and teach music at a university, you should pursue a PhD or DMA in music. In addition to becoming academics, doctoral graduates work as researchers, administrators, conductors, and composers. Because this is a research-based qualification, most practicing musicians don’t bother with the PhD or DMA.

A certificate in music is a non-degree academic qualification that takes ~6 months-1 year to complete. Like a minor in a conventional degree program, certificates are intended to provide students with specific skills in an area of music studies. Depending on the focus, some certificate programs will ask you to pass an audition.

If you are thinking of pursuing a certificate in order to earn course credits for an academic degree, first make sure that your certificate credits will be transferable to the program of your choice.

Certificate Options

• Undergraduate Certificate: Targeted at aspiring undergraduates who are considering a bachelor’s in music or current undergraduates who wish to prepare for graduate study, gain performance experience, and/or explore specific areas (e.g. composition).
• Graduate Certificate: Targeted at baccalaureate holders who are interested in acquiring new skills (e.g. digital music production, music education, etc.), earning course credits for a master’s degree, and/or advancing their job prospects.

As a rule of thumb, we suggest that you look for schools with regional accreditation. This is a “seal of approval” granted to institutions (e.g. non-profit and public colleges and universities) by one of six regional accrediting bodies (e.g. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools). Music conservatories are eligible for regional accreditation.

You can learn more about the difference between regional accreditation and national accreditation in Accreditation: Understanding the Difference Between Real Schools and Diploma Mills.

Benefits of Regional Accreditation

Choosing a regionally accredited school will make it much easier for you to:

• Transfer credits (many regionally accredited colleges and universities will not accept credits from nationally accredited schools)
• Apply for student loans, tuition reimbursement, scholarships and funding opportunities
• Get into graduate school
• Look good in the eyes of headhunters and recruiters

Regional accreditation only applies to a college or university, not to individual music degrees or programs. If you’re concerned about the quality, you may wish to see if the music school has NASM accreditation. Music therapists can search for AMTA-Approved Schools.

Established in 1924, the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) sets national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials in music education. In order for schools to participate in Title IV funding programs, institutions must be accredited by a recognized institutional agency (e.g. Higher Learning Commission). That means some independent schools of music have opted for NASM accreditation.

It’s not necessary to go to a NASM-accredited school to get a good education. Some very well-known schools, including the Juilliard School, the Yale School of Music, the New England Conservatory, and the University of Southern California have opted out of NASM accreditation. But it may help in your decision.

Search for a NASM-Accredited School.

The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) offers its seal of approval to undergraduate and graduate programs in music therapy. However, only academic institutions that are regionally accredited and accredited/affirmed by the NASM are eligible. Schools applying for AMTA approval must meet a set of quality standards, including academic and clinical competencies. For example, bachelor’s programs in music therapy must provide 1,200 hours of clinical training, including a supervised internship.

In order to become a board-certified music therapist, it’s important to earn an AMTA-approved degree. This will set you up for the MT-BC credential.

Search for an AMTA-Approved School.

If you’d like to teach K-12 music in a public school, you must have a state teaching license. (Private schools may not require state licensure, but they’ll generally expect you to hold a degree.) We discuss the licensure process and the importance of NCATE and TEAC accreditation in our article on K-12 Education Degrees.

Not sure of your options? To become a music teacher, you could consider:

• Earning a Bachelor of Music Education (BME) from a regionally accredited bachelor’s program that incorporates supervised teaching experiences/internships into the program. This is the most straightforward way to get into teaching.
• Pursuing another bachelor’s degree in music (e.g. BMus, BA) and enrolling in a teacher certification program after graduation.
• Completing a master’s degree in education or music education and fulfilling licensure requirements. Some schools require music teachers to hold a master’s degree.

Please be sure to check with your State Board of Education for exact details on licensure before you enroll in a music education program. You want to make sure your state will recognize your degree. You may also wish to visit the website of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). It has a wide variety of resources for teachers and administrators.

Unlike state licensure, professional certification from the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) is purely voluntary. However, deciding to become certified as a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) shows employers that you have committed to maintaining a set of high educational standards.

MTNA certification is available to music teachers who teach at any age level, in any setting (private or group). The certification process can last up to one year, and involves the submission of five teacher profile projects. Certification must be renewed on a regular basis.

In order to work as a music therapist, you should be certified to practice. The most straightforward path to certification is to earn a bachelor’s degree – or higher – from an AMTA-approved college or university program. Once you have your degree in hand, you can take the national board certification exam from the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). This is the only organization to certify music therapists to practice music therapy nationally. If you pass this exam, you will be granted the MT-BC (Music Therapist – Board Certified) credential.

You may come across CVs of current music therapists that list professional designations such ACMT, CMT or RMT. These board certifications were issued by the former American Association for Music Therapy (AAMT) and are valid until 2020. They have all been replaced by the MT-BC credential.

State Licensure

There are only a few states that issue state licenses for music therapy. These include:

• Nevada: Licensed Board-Certified Music Therapy (MT-BC/L)
• North Dakota: Licensed Board-Certified Music Therapy (MT-BC/L)
• Wisconsin:Wisconsin Music Therapist-Registered (WMTR) – a registry, rather than a license

In other states, you may wish to consider applying for a license in general therapy/mental health. Examples of these include the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and theLicensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT). But be aware that they won’t be music-oriented.

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