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2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Music Education

171 Ranked Colleges
1,210 Degrees Awarded
$28,800 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Music Education is the 151st most popular major in the country with 4,909 degrees awarded in 2021-2022.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,210 music education graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,979 and $43,370 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major” ranking looked at 171 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in music education. That schools that top this list have a program in music education in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Music Education Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Music Teacher Education Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Music Education

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend VanderCook College of Music. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major. VanderCook College of Music is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 47 masters’s music teacher education degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Music Education at VanderCook College of Music

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Longy School of Music of Bard College. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s music teacher education degrees to 24 students in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Education at Longy School of Music of Bard College

3
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The University of the Arts
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Out of the 171 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of the Arts landed the #3 spot on the list. The University of the Arts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 27 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full UArts Music Education Report

4
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Northern State University
Aberdeen, South Dakota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major list. Northern State University is a small public school situated in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It awarded 15 masters’s music teacher education degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Music Education at Northern State University

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Teachers College at Columbia University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major list. Teachers College is a small school located in New York, New York that handed out 73 masters’s music teacher education degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Music Education at Teachers College

6
Gordon College crest
Gordon College
Wenham, Massachusetts

Gordon College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major ranking, coming in at #6. Gordon College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wenham, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Education at Gordon College

7
SUNY Fredonia crest
SUNY Fredonia
Fredonia, New York

SUNY Fredonia landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major ranking. Fredonia, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music teacher education degrees to 12 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full SUNY Fredonia Music Education Report

8
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Five Towns College
Dix Hills, New York

Five Towns College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major ranking. Five Towns College is a private for-profit institution located in Dix Hills, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Music Education at Five Towns College

9
Anderson University South Carolina crest
Anderson University South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina

Anderson University South Carolina landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major ranking. Anderson University South Carolina is located in Anderson, South Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 15 masters’s music teacher education degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Education at Anderson University South Carolina

10
Adams State crest
Adams State University
Alamosa, Colorado

Adams State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major ranking, coming in at #10. Adams State University is located in Alamosa, Colorado and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 11 masters’s music teacher education degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Adams State Music Education Report

11

Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major list. San Juan, Puerto Rico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music teacher education degrees to 5 students in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Music Education at Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music

12
William Carey University crest
William Carey University
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

William Carey University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major ranking. William Carey University is a medium-sized school located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi that handed out 27 masters’s music teacher education degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Music Education at William Carey University

13
SUNY Potsdam crest
SUNY Potsdam
Potsdam, New York

With a ranking of #13, SUNY Potsdam did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major list. SUNY Potsdam is a small public school situated in Potsdam, New York. It awarded 12 masters’s music teacher education degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full SUNY Potsdam Music Education Report

14
CWU crest
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, Washington

Central Washington University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major ranking, coming in at #14. Central Washington University is a medium-sized school located in Ellensburg, Washington that handed out 67 masters’s music teacher education degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Education at Central Washington University

15

Heidelberg University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major ranking. Tiffin, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s music teacher education degrees to 4 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Heidelberg University Music Education Report

16
Bob Jones University crest
Bob Jones University
Greenville, South Carolina

Bob Jones University ranked #16 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major list. Located in Greenville, South Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 4 degrees to qualified masters’s music teacher education students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Bob Jones University Music Education Report

17
Truman State crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major ranking. Kirksville, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music teacher education degrees to 7 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Education at Truman State

18

With a ranking of #18, Georgia College & State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major list. Georgia College is a public institution located in Milledgeville, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Georgia College & State University Music Education Report

19
HNU crest
Holy Names University
Oakland, California

Holy Names University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major ranking. HNU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Oakland, California. It awarded 1 masters’s music teacher education degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Music Education at Holy Names University

20

Kent State University at Kent ranked #20 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major list. This large school is located in Kent, Ohio, and it awarded 70 masters’s music teacher education degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Education at Kent State

21
Loyola Maryland crest
Loyola University Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland

Loyola University Maryland did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major ranking, coming in at #21. Loyola Maryland is a private not-for-profit institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Music Education at Loyola University Maryland

22
Rider crest
Rider University
Lawrenceville, New Jersey

Rider University ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major list. Rider is a small school located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey that handed out 6 masters’s music teacher education degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Education at Rider

23
North Greenville crest
North Greenville University
Tigerville, South Carolina

North Greenville University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major ranking. Located in Tigerville, South Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 5 degrees to qualified masters’s music teacher education students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full North Greenville Music Education Report

24
Ithaca crest
Ithaca College
Ithaca, New York

Ithaca College ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major list. Ithaca is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ithaca, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Music Education at Ithaca

25
Castleton crest
Castleton University
Castleton, Vermont

Castleton University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major ranking, coming in at #25. Castleton is a small school located in Castleton, Vermont that handed out 3 masters’s music teacher education degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Castleton Music Education Report

Rest of the Best 26 in Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Music Teacher Education Major

Not only did these schools make the top 26 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26

Notes and References

References

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