100 Best Music schools in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Music. A graph of 422K citations received by 22.3K academic papers made by 203 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Music

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

2. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Music

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

3. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Music

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

4. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Music

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

5. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Music

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

6. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Music

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Music

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Music

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

9. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Music

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

10. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Music

#13 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

11. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Music

#14 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

12. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Music

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

13. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Music

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

14. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Music

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

15. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Music

#18 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

16. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Music

#19 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

17. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Music

#20 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

18. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Music

#21 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

19. University of Texas at Austin

For Music

#22 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

20. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Music

#23 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

21. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Music

#25 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

22. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Music

#26 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

23. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Music

#27 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

24. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Music

#28 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

25. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Music

#29 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

26. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Music

#30 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

27. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Music

#31 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

28. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Music

#32 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

29. Kent State University at Kent

For Music

#33 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%

30. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Music

#34 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

31. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Music

#35 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

32. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Music

#36 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

33. University of North Texas

For Music

#37 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 90%

34. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Music

#38 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

35. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Music

#39 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

36. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Music

#40 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

37. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Music

#41 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

38. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Music

#42 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

39. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Music

#43 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

40. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Music

#44 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

41. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Music

#46 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

42. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Music

#47 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

43. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Music

#48 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

44. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Music

#49 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

45. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Music

#50 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

46. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Music

#51 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

47. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Music

#54 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

48. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Music

#55 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

49. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Music

#56 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

50. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Music

#57 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

51. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Music

#58 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

52. Bowling Green State University

Ohio | Bowling Green

For Music

#59 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 99%

53. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Music

#60 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

54. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Music

#61 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

55. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

North Carolina | Greensboro

For Music

#62 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1253
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 92%

56. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Music

#63 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

57. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Music

#64 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

58. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Music

#65 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

59. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Music

#66 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

60. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Music

#68 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

61. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Music

#69 in North America

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

62. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Music

#70 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

63. Northern Illinois University

Illinois | DeKalb

For Music

#71 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $14,387
Enrollment: 15,414

64. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Music

#72 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

65. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Music

#73 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

66. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Music

#74 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

67. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Music

#75 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

68. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Music

#76 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

69. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Music

#77 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

70. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Music

#78 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

71. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Music

#79 in North America

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

72. Ball State University

Indiana | Muncie

For Music

#80 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 91%

73. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Music

#81 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

74. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Music

#82 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

75. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Music

#83 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

76. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Music

#84 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

77. East Carolina University

North Carolina | Greenville

For Music

#87 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 77%

78. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Music

#88 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

79. Ithaca College

New York State | Ithaca

For Music

#89 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $35,253

80. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Music

#90 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

81. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Music

#91 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

82. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Music

#92 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

83. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Music

#93 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

84. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Music

#95 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

85. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Music

#96 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

86. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Music

#98 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 88%

87. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Music

#99 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

88. University of Hartford

Connecticut | West Hartford

For Music

#100 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $31,261

89. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Music

#101 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

90. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Music

#102 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

91. University of Texas at Dallas

Texas | Richardson

For Music

#103 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

92. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Music

#106 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

93. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Music

#107 in North America

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

94. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Music

#108 in North America

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

95. Bucknell University

Pennsylvania | Lewisburg

For Music

#109 in North America

#242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,003

96. University of Missouri - Kansas City

Missouri | Kansas

For Music

#110 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 98%

97. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Music

#111 in North America

#244 in the World

Enrollment: 2,549
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1943

98. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Music

#112 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

99. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Music

#113 in North America

#253 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

100. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Music

#114 in North America

#256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

The best cities to study Music in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Seattle, Columbus, San Diego, and Cambridge.