100 Best Music schools in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 264K citations received by 19.3K academic papers made by 157 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: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

2. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Music

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

3. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Music

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

4. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Music

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

5. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Music

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

6. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Music

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Music

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

8. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Music

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

9. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Music

#12 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

10. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Music

#13 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

11. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Music

#14 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

12. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Music

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

13. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Music

#16 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

14. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Music

#17 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

15. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Music

#18 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

16. University of Texas at Austin

For Music

#19 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

17. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Music

#21 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

18. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Music

#22 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

19. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Music

#23 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

20. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Music

#24 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

21. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Music

#25 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

22. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Music

#26 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

23. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Music

#27 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

24. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Music

#28 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

25. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Music

#29 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

26. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Music

#30 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

27. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Music

#31 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

28. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Music

#32 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

29. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Music

#33 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

30. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Music

#34 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

31. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Music

#35 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

32. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Music

#36 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

33. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Music

#37 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

34. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Music

#39 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

35. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Music

#40 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

36. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Music

#41 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

37. Bowling Green State University

Ohio | Bowling Green

For Music

#42 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1095
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

38. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Music

#43 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

39. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Music

#44 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $22,042
Enrollment: 26,809

40. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Music

#45 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

41. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Music

#46 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

42. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Music

#48 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

43. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Music

#49 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

44. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Music

#50 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

45. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Music

#51 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

46. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Music

#52 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

47. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Music

#53 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

48. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Music

#54 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

49. University of North Texas

For Music

#55 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

50. Kent State University at Kent

For Music

#56 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 98%

51. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Music

#57 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

52. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Music

#58 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

53. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Music

#59 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

54. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Music

#60 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

55. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Music

#61 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

56. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Music

#62 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

57. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Music

#63 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

58. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Music

#64 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

59. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Music

#66 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $21,202
Enrollment: 19,478

60. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Music

#67 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

61. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Music

#68 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

62. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Music

#69 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

63. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Music

#70 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

64. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Music

#71 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

65. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Music

#73 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

66. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

North Carolina | Greensboro

For Music

#74 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

67. Ball State University

Indiana | Muncie

For Music

#75 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

68. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Music

#76 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

69. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Music

#77 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

70. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Music

#78 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

71. East Carolina University

North Carolina | Greenville

For Music

#79 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $9,020
Enrollment: 27,151

72. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Music

#80 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

73. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Music

#81 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

74. University of Texas at Dallas

Texas | Richardson

For Music

#82 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 75%

75. Ithaca College

New York State | Ithaca

For Music

#83 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1292
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $35,858

76. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Music

#84 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

77. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Music

#85 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $39,267

78. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Music

#86 in North America

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

79. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Music

#87 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

80. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Music

#88 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

81. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Music

#89 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

82. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Music

#92 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

83. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Music

#94 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

84. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Music

#95 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

85. University of Missouri - Kansas City

Missouri | Kansas

For Music

#96 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1398
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 96%

86. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Music

#98 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

87. University of Hartford

Connecticut | West Hartford

For Music

#100 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $31,687

88. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Music

#101 in North America

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

89. Oakland University

Michigan | Rochester Hills

For Music

#102 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1130
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,755

90. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Music

#103 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

91. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Music

#104 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%

92. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Music

#105 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

93. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Music

#106 in North America

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

94. Bucknell University

Pennsylvania | Lewisburg

For Music

#108 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,965

95. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Music

#109 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

96. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Music

#111 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

97. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Music

#112 in North America

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

98. Northern Illinois University

Illinois | DeKalb

For Music

#114 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $12,552
Enrollment: 15,649

99. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Music

#115 in North America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

100. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Music

#116 in North America

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 79%

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