by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual looked at 27 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Music Master's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 1,245 master's degrees in music to qualified students.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
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.
The music master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality music program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for music students working on their master's degree.
When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Music Master's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list to help you make the college decision.
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.
Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for music students seeking a a master's degree.
Northwestern University is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in music. Northwestern is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Evanston.
Soon after graduation, music master's recipients generally earn an average of $21,290 in their early careers.
More information about a master’s in music from Northwestern University
It's hard to beat University of Michigan - Ann Arbor if you want to pursue a master's degree in music. U-M is a fairly large public university located in the midsize city of Ann Arbor.
Master's graduates who receive their degree from the music program make about $16,971 in the first couple years of working.
More information about a master’s in music from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Any student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in music needs to take a look at Michigan State University. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State is a public university with a very large student population.
Master's recipients from the music degree program at Michigan State University make $12,878 above the average college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a master’s in music from Michigan State University
Every student who is interested in a master's degree in music needs to look into Indiana University - Bloomington. IU Bloomington is a fairly large public university located in the city of Bloomington.
After graduating, music master's recipients typically earn around $22,513 in their early careers.
More information about a master’s in music from Indiana University - Bloomington
UC is a very large public university located in the city of Cincinnati.
Soon after graduation, music master's recipients typically make about $25,713 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a master’s in music from University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
Located in the city of Champaign, UIUC is a public university with a very large student population.
Students who graduate with their master's from the music program state that they receive average early career income of $23,379.
More information about a master’s in music from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ohio State is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Columbus.More information about a master’s in music from Ohio State University - Main Campus
BGSU is a fairly large public university located in the town of Bowling Green.
Music master's degree recipients from Bowling Green State University - Main Campus earn a boost of about $4,880 over the typical earnings of music majors.
More information about a master’s in music from Bowling Green State University - Main Campus
Located in the large city of Chicago, DePaul is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.
Soon after graduating, music master's recipients typically make around $26,615 in their early careers.
More information about a master’s in music from DePaul University
Located in the city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Master's graduates who receive their degree from the music program earn an average of $31,552 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a master’s in music from University of Wisconsin - MadisonExplore the best music schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes Region .
Music is one of 10 different types of Visual & Performing Arts programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music Performance | 672 |
| General Music | 235 |
| Music Pedagogy | 91 |
| Music Theory & Composition | 39 |
| Stringed Instruments | 35 |
| Voice Performance | 34 |
| Other Music | 31 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 30 |
| Conducting | 29 |
| Jazz Studies | 21 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fine & Studio Arts | 490 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 211 |
| Arts & Media Management | 209 |
| Design & Applied Arts | 179 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 101 |
| Dance | 33 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 27 |
