by our College Data Analytics TeamLearn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Earn the music business degree that fits into the business world – and partners Southern New Hampshire University with world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
General Music was the 73rd most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 11,232 degrees in this year alone. This 341 less than the prior year, a decrease of 3.0%.
This year's Best General Music Schools ranking compares 407 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom general music rankings further below.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Earn the music business degree that fits into the business world – and partners Southern New Hampshire University with world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
A major in general music prepares you for careers in which giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times is crucial. Required skills include talking to others to convey information effectively and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most general music degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific general music careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of general music degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in general music to something that takes less time like a . Different general music degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to general music, with approximately 39.7% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for general music workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 41.9% |
| Master’s Degree | 20.6% |
| Some College Courses | 8.7% |
| High School Diploma | 7.9% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 6.4% |
About 72.8% of workers in careers related to general music obtain at least associate degrees. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in general music careers have.
This of course varies depending on which general music career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your general music degree? General Music careers are expected to grow 7.3% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general music.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| High School Teachers | 1,095,500 | 7.5% |
| Musicians and Singers | 182,800 | 6.0% |
As you might expect, salaries for general music graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for general music graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers general music grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Teachers | $64,340 |
With over 1,745 different general music degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased general music school rankings to help you with this.
One of 16 majors within the Music area of study, General Music has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music Performance | 7,335 |
| Music Technology | 1,788 |
| Music Theory & Composition | 1,175 |
| Other Music | 1,117 |
| Voice Performance | 656 |
