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2022 Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Music in Illinois

15 Colleges in Illinois
284 Master's Degrees
$22,567 Avg Early-Career Salary
A master's degree in music is more popular than many other degrees. In fact, it ranks #35 out of 326 on popularity of all such degrees in the nation. This means you won't have too much trouble finding schools that offer the degree.

College Factual reviewed 15 schools in Illinois to determine which ones were the most popular for master's degree seekers in the field of music. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 284 master's degrees in music during the 2019-2020 academic year.

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Choosing a Great Music School for Your Master's Degree

Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Music in Illinois Your choice of school for getting your master's degree in music matters. One of the reasons we created our Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Music in Illinois ranking is to help you make that choice.

While being high in popularity does not always mean a school has a quality music program, it is a sign that a large number of students choose the school. Sometimes this is because the school offers a great educational experience, it is a good value, or it is highly focused on the program.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Associate Degrees in Music
Bachelor's Degrees in Music
Doctor's Degrees in Music
Overall Popularity in Music

This ranking is just one of the many we have created. First of all, if you are interested in other degree levels, you may want to take a look at one of the rankings highlighted above. Also, if you are interested in attending school in a specific part of the country, see our rankings by location. Plus, you can view our other rankings for music.

Below you'll see a list of the most popular colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in music.

10 Most Well Attended Schools for Music Students Working on Their Master's

1
53 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Best Quality In IL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

Northwestern University is a popular decision for students pursuing a master's degree in music. Northwestern is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Evanston. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for master's degrees in music in Illinois.

There were roughly 53 music individuals who graduated with this degree at Northwestern in the most recent data year.

Soon after graduation, music master's recipients usually make around $21,900 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a master’s in music from Northwestern University

2
47 Annual Master's Degrees
#3 Best Quality In IL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is one of the most popular schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in music. Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public university with a fairly large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #3 in quality for master's degrees in music in Illinois.

There were roughly 47 music students who graduated with this degree at UIUC in the most recent year we have data available.

Students who graduate with their master's from the music program state that they receive average early career income of $15,500.

More information about a master’s in music from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

3
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
40 Annual Master's Degrees
#12 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

DePaul University is one of the most popular schools in the country for getting a master's degree in music. Located in the large city of Chicago, DePaul is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.

There were approximately 40 music individuals who graduated with this degree at DePaul in the most recent data year.

Students who graduate with their master's from the music program report average early career earnings of $19,000.

More information about a master’s in music from DePaul University

4
29 Annual Master's Degrees
#11 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

You'll be surrounded by many like-minded peers at Northern Illinois University if you wish to pursue a master's degree in music. NIU is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Dekalb.

There were roughly 29 music individuals who graduated with this degree at NIU in the most recent data year.

Music master's degree recipients from Northern Illinois University receive an earnings boost of approximately $2,333 over the average earnings of music majors.

More information about a master’s in music from Northern Illinois University

5
25 Annual Master's Degrees
#5 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the medium-sized suburb of Normal, Illinois State is a public university with a fairly large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #5 in quality for master's degrees in music in Illinois.

There were about 25 music individuals who graduated with this degree at Illinois State in the most recent year we have data available.

Master's recipients from the music degree program at Illinois State University earn $9,133 above the typical college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a master’s in music from Illinois State University

6
23 Annual Master's Degrees
#14 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.

There were approximately 23 music students who graduated with this degree at Roosevelt in the most recent year we have data available.

Soon after graduation, music master's recipients typically make an average of $22,400 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a master’s in music from Roosevelt University

7
14 Annual Master's Degrees
#8 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the large suburb of Edwardsville, SIUE is a public university with a fairly large student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #8 in quality for master's degrees in music in Illinois.

There were roughly 14 music individuals who graduated with this degree at SIUE in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in music from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

8
13 Annual Master's Degrees
#7 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

WIU is a medium-sized public university located in the remote town of Macomb. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #7 in quality for master's degrees in music in Illinois.

There were roughly 13 music students who graduated with this degree at WIU in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in music from Western Illinois University

9
11 Annual Master's Degrees
#13 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

There were approximately 11 music individuals who graduated with this degree at Columbia in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in music from Columbia College Chicago

10
9 Annual Master's Degrees
#10 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the small city of Carbondale, SIUC is a public university with a large student population.

There were approximately 9 music students who graduated with this degree at SIUC in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in music from Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Best Music Colleges in the Great Lakes Region

Explore all the Most Popular Music Colleges in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Michigan 203 218
Ohio 195 339
Indiana 181 193
Wisconsin 166 40

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One of 10 majors within the Visual & Performing Arts area of study, Music has other similar majors worth exploring.

Music Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
General Music 154
Music Performance 49
Voice Performance 23
Stringed Instruments 19
Other Music 11
Keyboard Instruments 10
Jazz Studies 5
Conducting 4
Music Theory & Composition 4
Musicology & Ethnomusicology 2

Related Major Annual Graduates
Fine & Studio Arts 275
Drama & Theater Arts 101
Arts & Media Management 96
Film, Video & Photographic Arts 85
Design & Applied Arts 53
Other Visual Art 9
General Visual & Performing Arts 9
Dance 4

Notes and References

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