100 Best Music schools in the United States

Ranking by academic field

Below is the list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Music. A graph of 203K citations received by 10.2K academic papers made by 225 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 topical rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science profiles.

1. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Music

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,126

2. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Music

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

3. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Music

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 70%

4. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Music

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $20,023

5. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Music

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1327
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 56%

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Music

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,998

7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Music

#9 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

8. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Music

#10 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

9. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Music

#11 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 96%

10. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Music

#12 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,344

11. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Music

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,037

12. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Music

#14 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,522

13. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Music

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

14. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Music

#17 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 71%

15. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Music

#18 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1350
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

16. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Music

#20 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $15,461
Enrollment: 44,589

17. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Music

#21 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,417

18. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Music

#22 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,254

19. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Music

#23 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 63%

20. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Music

#24 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,233

21. University of Texas at Austin

For Music

#25 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

22. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Music

#26 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 67%

23. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Music

#27 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 61%

24. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Music

#28 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 93%

25. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Music

#29 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

26. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Music

#30 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 87%

27. Bowling Green State University

Ohio | Bowling Green

For Music

#31 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

28. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Music

#32 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $29,154

29. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Music

#34 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,983

30. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Music

#35 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

31. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Music

#36 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,759

32. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Music

#37 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 94%

33. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Music

#38 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,932

34. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Music

#40 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,511

35. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Music

#41 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 74%

36. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Music

#42 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $8,719
Enrollment: 40,363

37. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Music

#43 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 85%

38. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Music

#44 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

39. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Music

#45 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

40. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Music

#46 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,584

41. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Music

#48 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 77%

42. University of North Texas

For Music

#49 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 85%

43. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Music

#50 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 67%

44. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Music

#52 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 58%

45. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Music

#53 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $11,161
Enrollment: 37,236

46. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Music

#54 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 66%

47. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Music

#55 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,685

48. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Music

#56 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,167

49. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Music

#57 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $36,002

50. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Music

#58 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 66%

51. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Music

#59 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 74%

52. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Music

#60 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 64%

53. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Music

#61 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

54. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Music

#62 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

55. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Music

#63 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

56. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Music

#64 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $25,672

57. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Music

#65 in North America

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 95%

58. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

North Carolina | Greensboro

For Music

#67 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 87%

59. Kent State University at Kent

For Music

#68 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

60. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Music

#70 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $31,726

61. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Music

#71 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,241

62. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Music

#72 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

63. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Music

#74 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 85%

64. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Music

#75 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 93%

65. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Music

#76 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 93%

66. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Music

#77 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 87%

67. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Music

#78 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $13,150

68. University of Arkansas

Arkansas | Fayetteville

For Music

#79 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 87%

69. East Carolina University

North Carolina | Greenville

For Music

#80 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1095
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 81%

70. Ithaca College

New York State | Ithaca

For Music

#82 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Net Price: $35,904
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $28,109

71. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Music

#83 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,525

72. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Music

#84 in North America

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $39,463

73. Rochester Institute of Technology

New York State | Rochester

For Music

#85 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $36,514

74. Ball State University

Indiana | Muncie

For Music

#86 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $12,049
Enrollment: 21,597

75. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Music

#87 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

76. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Music

#88 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,720

77. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Music

#89 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

78. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Music

#90 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Net Price: $47,177
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $25,864

79. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Music

#91 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1332
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 78%

80. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Music

#92 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

81. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Music

#93 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 67%

82. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Music

#94 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 3,201
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

83. Northern Illinois University

Illinois | DeKalb

For Music

#95 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $11,848
Enrollment: 16,769

84. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Music

#96 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 89%

85. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Music

#99 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 75%

86. University of Hartford

Connecticut | West Hartford

For Music

#100 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $28,692

87. University of Nevada - Las Vegas

Nevada | Las Vegas

For Music

#101 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 96%

88. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Music

#102 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 94%

89. Hanover College

Indiana | Hanover

For Music

#103 in North America

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $22,389

90. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Music

#105 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 90%

91. University of Texas at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Music

#106 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 87%

92. University of Texas at El Paso

Texas | El Paso

For Music

#107 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $9,673
Enrollment: 24,879

93. Haverford College

Pennsylvania | Haverford

For Music

#108 in North America

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $25,215

94. University of St Thomas - Minnesota

Minnesota | Saint Paul

For Music

#109 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $31,799

95. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Music

#110 in North America

#241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,659

96. University of Memphis

Tennessee | Memphis

For Music

#111 in North America

#242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1095
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

97. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Music

#112 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 95%

98. University of Texas at Dallas

Texas | Richardson

For Music

#113 in North America

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

99. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Music

#115 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

100. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Music

#116 in North America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

The best cities to study Music in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are New York, Columbus, Champaign, and Stanford.