100 Best Music schools in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 403K citations received by 22K academic papers made by 201 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: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

2. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Music

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

3. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Music

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

4. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Music

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

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: $17,998

6. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Music

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Music

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Music

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

9. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Music

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

10. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Music

#13 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

11. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Music

#14 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

12. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Music

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

13. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Music

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

14. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Music

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

15. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Music

#18 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

16. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Music

#19 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

17. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Music

#20 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

18. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Music

#21 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

19. University of Texas at Austin

For Music

#22 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

20. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Music

#23 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

21. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Music

#25 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

22. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Music

#26 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

23. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Music

#27 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

24. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Music

#28 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

25. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Music

#29 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

26. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Music

#30 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

27. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Music

#31 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

28. Kent State University at Kent

For Music

#32 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 96%

29. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Music

#33 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

30. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Music

#34 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

31. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Music

#35 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

32. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Music

#36 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

33. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Music

#37 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

34. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Music

#38 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

35. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Music

#39 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

36. University of North Texas

For Music

#40 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 91%

37. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Music

#41 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

38. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Music

#42 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

39. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Music

#43 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

40. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Music

#44 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

41. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Music

#45 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

42. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Music

#46 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

43. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Music

#48 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

44. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Music

#49 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

45. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Music

#50 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

46. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Music

#51 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

47. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Music

#54 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

48. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Music

#55 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

49. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Music

#56 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

50. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Music

#57 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

51. Bowling Green State University

Ohio | Bowling Green

For Music

#58 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

52. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Music

#59 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

53. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Music

#60 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

54. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

North Carolina | Greensboro

For Music

#61 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

55. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Music

#62 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

56. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Music

#63 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

57. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Music

#64 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

58. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Music

#65 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

59. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Music

#67 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

60. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Music

#68 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

61. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Music

#69 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

62. Northern Illinois University

Illinois | DeKalb

For Music

#70 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $13,565
Enrollment: 15,504

63. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Music

#71 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

64. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Music

#72 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

65. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Music

#73 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

66. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Music

#74 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

67. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Music

#75 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

68. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Music

#76 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

69. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Music

#77 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

70. Ball State University

Indiana | Muncie

For Music

#78 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 97%

71. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Music

#79 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,564
Enrollment: 19,764

72. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Music

#80 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

73. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Music

#81 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

74. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Music

#82 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

75. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Music

#83 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

76. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Music

#84 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

77. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Music

#86 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,342

78. Ithaca College

New York State | Ithaca

For Music

#88 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $34,297

79. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Music

#89 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

80. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Music

#90 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $51,520

81. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Music

#91 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

82. East Carolina University

North Carolina | Greenville

For Music

#92 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 79%

83. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Music

#94 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

84. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Music

#95 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $14,643

85. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Music

#97 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 84%

86. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Music

#98 in North America

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

87. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Music

#99 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

88. University of Texas at Dallas

Texas | Richardson

For Music

#100 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 72%

89. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Music

#101 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

90. University of Hartford

Connecticut | West Hartford

For Music

#102 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $30,553

91. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Music

#103 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

92. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Music

#105 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

93. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Music

#106 in North America

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

94. Bucknell University

Pennsylvania | Lewisburg

For Music

#108 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,486

95. University of Missouri - Kansas City

Missouri | Kansas

For Music

#109 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

96. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Music

#110 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

97. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Music

#111 in North America

#243 in the World

Enrollment: 2,501
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1943

98. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Music

#112 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

99. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Music

#113 in North America

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

100. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Music

#114 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 92%

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.