A degree in Music Education gives musicians the best of both worlds. Not only do they get to spend time improving their practice in the instrument of their choice – they also get to share that passion and technique with equally enthusiastic youth.

The United States is home to music education programs for almost any instrument and educational setting imaginable. 

One major factor to consider in a music education school is the location—music education is admittedly more supported in urban areas than in rural environments (though this is not always the case).

If you complete a music education degree in Pennsylvania, you will be certified to teach in Pennsylvania.

That being said, reciprocation or articulation agreements exist among different states – this means that a music education certification in one state will be suitable for other states as well.

Another factor to consider is where you do your education, which can influence your connections. 

Completing field experiences in heavily populated locations like New York City, Boston, and Los Angeles may provide more opportunities for professional networking. 

Without further ado, here are our picks for 10 of the best music education colleges in the US.

Keep in mind this is not a list of the definitive 10 absolute best schools, and this list is a good starting point for your journey looking into colleges for music.


Ithaca College School of Music

Ithaca College School of Music
Kenneth C. Zirkel, Boardman House, Ithaca NY, CC BY-SA 4.0

Ithaca College boasts a solid liberal arts program focusing on teaching undergraduates, resulting in less competition from graduate students.

All students must audition for admission, and most musically-minded Ithaca students pursue a degree in Music Education.

The BM in Music Education places students in field experiences as early as their first and second years.

Undergraduates begin teaching classes in their third year of study, which is earlier than other undergraduate programs typically allow.

In their senior year, students serve as student teachers in a local Ithaca public school. Those interested in music education and performance can also obtain a dual degree.

Students can join one of three professional music fraternities as early as their second semester. These organizations provide excellent opportunities to familiarize oneself with the Ithaca music community and foster connections with peers who share one’s interests.


UT Austin Butler School of Music

Texas has a massive K-12 music culture, and UT Austin’s Butler School of Music provides ample opportunities for students to immerse themselves in public school settings.

For example, the Center for Music Learning oversees the Musical Lives initiative designed to provide music access to economically disadvantaged students.

Butler offers a String Project and Piano Project for teachers interested in refining youth talent. Children as young as four years old are eligible to receive weekly lessons from music majors.

UT Austin undergraduates learn from the best – the Distinguished Teacher Series hosts 3-5 day residencies for world-renowned music educators.

The BM in Music Studies degree places undergraduates in public and private school contexts where they can gain teaching experience.

Simultaneously, students develop skills in their primary instrument and participate in ensembles of their choice.

Attending the School of Music can be a financially viable option – all student applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships, and over 60% of first-year students receive one.


Northwestern University Bienen School of Music

Northwestern Bienen School of Music
Smandlso, Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, CC BY-SA 4.0

Thousands of music teachers worldwide got their start at Northwestern’s Bienen School of Music.

Undergraduates can count on intimate class sizes and one-on-one attention from expert professors like Dr. Sarah J. Barolome – a former Fulbright Scholar who conducted music research in Lithuania.

The BM in Music Education operates on a quarter system, allowing students the flexibility to enroll in more cross-disciplinary classes and even double major in music education and performance.

Each year, students have the opportunity to collaborate with more than 60 Chicago schools, and 100% of graduates gain placement in teaching positions immediately after graduation.

Northwestern offers a dual degree in Music and Education and Social Policy – this five-year program is ideal for students who desire to use music as a tool for social change. The university places a strong emphasis on research.

Projects like “Crossing Boundaries” predict that “the degree to which the music of any two cultures differ in patterns of pitch and rhythm will predict how well someone from one of the cultures can process the music of the other.”


Lawrence University Conservatory of Music

Lawrence University offers unique courses in music that students don’t have access to anywhere else.

In The Entrepreneurial Musician, professors assign various projects designed to develop students into agents of social and entrepreneurial change.

Introduction to Arts Management is an ideal course for students interested in nonprofit arts leadership positions.

The curriculum challenges them to manage community engagement, marketing, and crisis response, among other relevant topics.

In their fourth year of study, students participate in the Chandler Senior Experience – an 18-week elementary or secondary school placement where they work alongside a mentor teacher to prepare for state certification.

Students also develop a digital portfolio inclusive of audio and video recordings of their lessons. Lawrence alumni have historically enjoyed a 100% placement rate following graduation.

Undergraduates can expect to learn from a dynamic faculty group. Instructor Matthew L. Turner, for example, is considered one of the best improvising cellists in the world.

Professor Leila Ramagopal Pertl is an acting Chair of the Committee on Cultural Inclusion for the College Music Society and a Smithsonian Folkways Music Education Committee member.


Florida State University School of Music

FSU’s Music Education program is one of the best in the nation, and all graduates progress to find careers in school districts around the country and the world post-commencement.

Students can concentrate on elementary education or middle school and high school ensemble leadership.

The Music Education faculty is one of the largest and most acclaimed in the world, compared to other music departments.

Dr. David Plack was recently nominated for the University Teaching Award, and Dr. Steven N. Kelly is a widely published author and oversees the FSU music camps.

In addition to the BM in Music Education, which culminates in certification to teach in the state of Florida, FSU students can take advantage of other specialized programs.

Graduate students are eligible to major in College Teaching or Music Education and Leadership, while undergraduates and graduates can focus on Special Music Education.


The Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University

The Peabody Institute is the United States’ first major intellectual and arts center in history. The Conservatory consists of Pulitzer Prize and Fulbright Scholar-winning faculty.

The BM in Music Education faculty features experts like Dr. Laura Parker, who established the MMEA Mentorship Program to support novice music teachers early in their careers.

The BM in Music Education prepares passionate performers to teach at the primary or secondary level – graduates move on to teach music in the state of Maryland and beyond.

Additionally, Johns Hopkins students benefit from fruitful partnerships between the university and the Baltimore community.

For example, HarpAdventures promotes harp instruction in Baltimore public schools, while JuniorBach connects Conservatory students with students from St. Ignatius Loyola Academy and the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women.

JuniorBachs’ mission is to inspire young students to organize a concert featuring their original scores.

Tuned-In grants free music instruction for select Baltimore students, and Baltimore Washington Musical Pathways is a scholarship program dedicated to supporting minority high school students who are passionate about building musicianship careers. 


Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music

Students attending the Blair School of Music can earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Vanderbilt in only five years!

This fantastic program places students in the same room as top-notch musicians, promotes early study abroad opportunities, and assigns field experiences in a diverse array of school settings (including charter, parochial, and public schools).

Students can get a head start in training through the Blair Academy pre-college program at Vanderbilt, which caters to the needs of future college students.

The program’s mission is to offer scholarships to those intent on pursuing a career in education.

Certification reciprocity is one of the primary benefits of obtaining teacher certification through the Blair School of Music.

In addition to gaining certification in Tennessee, graduates enjoy reciprocity agreements from 40 additional states—ideal students who envision traveling from state to state throughout their careers.


Boston University School of Music

Boston University School of Music
Beyond My Ken, Boston University, Booth Theatre, 820 Commonwealth Avenue, CC BY-SA 4.0

Boston University’s School of Music is among the oldest degree-conferring music schools in the country. It offers BM, MM, and DMA degrees in Music Education.

Students can obtain degrees in person or online, which may be a good option for students whose schedules and financial circumstances require them to work during the typical school day.

Cohorts are small – generally consisting of fewer than 25 undergraduates at one time – and students enjoy a 3:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Graduates typically enjoy nearly 100% job placement after completing all credits and obtaining their teaching certifications.

The faculty includes 25 members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and luminaries like Professor André de Quadros, who has taught in international schools, prisons, and rehabilitation centers, among other settings.


CSU Northridge

CSU Northridge’s music education program is a “hidden gem” with a long history of sending students into employment throughout California.

The Program is one of the most expansive in the state, making admissions a competitive process. All students must audition to enter the program, and only a limited number are accepted following an interview.

In addition to the BM degree, students can pursue an MA in Music Education.

The Credential Program takes place in year five after students obtain a BM degree; in this scenario, students complete two back-to-back semesters of student teaching, which is more than other schools typically require.  

Research is heavily emphasized at CSU Northridge, and the school has research centers dedicated to both elementary and secondary education.

Efforts like the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) offer support to first-generation and low-income students through assistance in completing financial aid applications, transitional services, mentoring relationships, and writing grants.


University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
Gronkhammer, CCM-Village-Night-2017-RGB(123248), CC BY-SA 4.0

Cincinnati is recognized as an affordable place to live and pursue a college degree.

The city is home to the second-oldest opera house in the United States – the Cincinnati Opera – and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the sixth-oldest orchestra in the country.

The Conservatory’s BM in Music Education grants three specialty tracks in jazz, instrumental, or choral/general education, and students benefit from field experiences in school- and community-based instructional settings.

Nearly 100% of graduates achieve employment post-commencement.

The three-summer Master of Music in Music Education allows existing teachers to earn their MM in three consecutive summers.

This way, students don’t have to leave their current jobs to dedicate time and effort to academic pursuits.

Students who take advantage of this program also have the chance to study abroad in their final summer of study.

Similar Posts