by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual looked at 44 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Music Doctor's Degree Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 1,357 doctor's degrees in music during the <nil> academic year.
What's on this page: * 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 doctor's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. 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 take this into account we include a college's overall Best Colleges for a Doctor's Degree ranking which itself looks at a host of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their doctor's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. That is, everyone wants their doctor's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for music students working on their doctor'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 Doctor's Degree Schools 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.
Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a doctor's degree in music.
Northwestern University is a good option for individuals interested in a doctor's degree in music. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in music from Northwestern University
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a wonderful option for students interested in a doctor's degree in music. Located in the midsize city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Music doctor's degree recipients from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor get an earnings boost of about $9,749 above the typical earnings of music majors.
More information about a doctorate in music from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
It's difficult to beat University of Southern California if you want to pursue a doctor's degree in music. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
Doctorate graduates who receive their degree from the music program earn about $29,274 for their early career.
More information about a doctorate in music from University of Southern California
It's difficult to beat University of Rochester if you want to pursue a doctor's degree in music. University of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university located in the medium-sized city of Rochester.
Music doctor's degree recipients from University of Rochester get an earnings boost of approximately $9,931 above the typical income of music majors.
More information about a doctorate in music from University of Rochester
Michigan State is a fairly large public university located in the city of East Lansing.More information about a doctorate in music from Michigan State University
Located in the city of Boston, Boston U is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.
Soon after graduation, music doctorate recipients generally earn around $38,029 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a doctorate in music from Boston University
Located in the small city of Bloomington, IU Bloomington is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Music doctor's degree recipients from Indiana University - Bloomington get an earnings boost of around $6,631 over the typical earnings of music majors.
More information about a doctorate in music from Indiana University - Bloomington
Located in the large city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in music from Johns Hopkins University
Located in the large suburb of Coral Gables, U Miami is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
Soon after graduation, music doctorate recipients usually make an average of $30,859 in their early careers.
More information about a doctorate in music from University of Miami
UCLA is a very large public university located in the large city of Los Angeles.More information about a doctorate in music from University of California - Los Angeles
View the Best Music Doctor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
Music is one of 10 different types of Visual & Performing Arts programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Music | 567 |
| Music Performance | 458 |
| Music Theory & Composition | 66 |
| Music Pedagogy | 61 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 52 |
| Musicology & Ethnomusicology | 35 |
| Conducting | 35 |
| Stringed Instruments | 23 |
| Other Music | 23 |
| Voice Performance | 13 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fine & Studio Arts | 188 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 89 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 57 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 28 |
| Other Visual Art | 21 |
| Design & Applied Arts | 20 |
| Dance | 9 |
| Arts & Media Management | 6 |
