Chicago has long been a preferred destination for musicians, hosting famous blues clubs like Buddy Guy’s Legends, the world-renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and other arts institutions.
Because of all the fantastic opportunities to witness and play live music, Chicago has become one of the top cities in the world to study music.
Home to several excellent college music programs, Chicago offers students the ideal combination of both musical training and performance opportunities throughout the windy city.
What sets Chicago’s music schools apart is their deep integration with the city’s professional music scene. Students regularly learn from artists who perform with the CSO, Lyric Opera, or other major ensembles while also playing in historic venues like the Symphony Center and the Harris Theater.
Beyond classical music, Chicago’s jazz and contemporary music scenes provide even more opportunities for students.
Today, we’ll explore 10 of the best music schools in the greater Chicago area. Keep in mind that some of these are stationed exactly in Chicago, and others are in the greater Chicago area.
DePaul University School of Music
DePaul’s School of Music stands out for its many offerings, from classical & jazz performance to innovative programs like performing arts management, which prepares students for careers running arts organizations. The school excels in both performance and behind-the-scenes training, offering strong programs in composition and sound recording technology.
Faculty at DePaul are particularly notable, including Scott Burns, a jazz saxophonist who has performed with McCoy Tyner, Ahmad Jamal, and Clark Terry; Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson, who is the principal flutist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; and Cynthia Yeh, principal percussionist of the Chicago Symphony.
DePaul recently created its nearly $100 million Holtschneider Performance Center, an impressive facility spanning 185,000 square feet with multiple concert halls, countless practice rooms, and recording facilities rivaling professional studios. Located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, the school combines world-class musical training with the resources of a major university.
Northwestern University Bienen School of Music
Northwestern’s Bienen School of Music is one the most selective music schools in the country, and students who wish to gain admission will need to achieve both musical and academic excellence.
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, one of the great orchestras in the US, has a longstanding association with Northwestern University. In fact, some of the school’s faculty hold principal positions in the CSO, such as clarinetist Stephen Williamson.
The Bienen School is an amazing option for dual degree students, making it a great choice for students who want to pursue both music and academics at a high level.
One reason dual majors thrive at Northwestern is the school’s quarter system, which condenses classes into 10-week units instead of the traditional 15-week semester, allowing students to take more classes than they could at other schools.
While admission is competitive, applying through early decision has historically given candidates a better shot at acceptance.
Roosevelt University Chicago College of the Performing Arts
Roosevelt University’s music program is a true hidden gem, and one reason is the caliber of teaching.
Faculty members hold dual appointments in major midwest groups like the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and even other professional midwest orchestras like the Milwaukee Symphony. These are the professors you get to work with every week.
Located in downtown Chicago, Roosevelt puts students in the heart of the city’s music scene. The location isn’t just about convenience – it means easy access to performances, internships, and the kind of real-world opportunities that shape a musician’s career.
For students seeking conservatory-level training with the energy of urban life right outside their practice room, Roosevelt offers an impressive package that often flies under the radar.
Wheaton College Conservatory of Music
Wheaton’s Conservatory offers something among the different music schools in Chicago: a liberal arts college experience. Unlike the larger universities and conservatories in Chicago, Wheaton only has undergraduate students – no master’s students competing for resources, opportunities, etc.
The school’s “Bachelor of Music with Elective Studies in an Outside Field” program is perfect for students who want musical training without giving up other academic interests. Liberal arts colleges tend to be more flexible in their approach to academic offerings.
Located about an hour west of Chicago, Wheaton provides a more traditional college atmosphere while keeping the city’s cultural opportunities within reach. It’s an ideal fit for musicians seeking a more intimate, liberal arts approach to their education
University of Chicago
Don’t come to UChicago expecting a traditional conservatory experience – there isn’t even a performance major outside of theatre.
However, what you’ll find instead is an academic department that dives deep into musicology, theory, and composition. The composition program, especially at the graduate level, has some of the most accomplished faculty in the field, including Pulitzer Prize winner Shulamit Ran.
If you’re looking for a top-tier academic education but don’t want to give up music, UChicago may be the perfect school for you.
The campus buzzes with music year-round, hosting 100s of performances through its many ensembles. It’s perfect for students who want to keep music in their lives while majoring in something else entirely – think future doctors who still want to play chamber music, or engineers who can’t imagine giving up orchestra.
VanderCook College of Music
Here’s something you don’t see every day: VanderCook is the only independent conservatory worldwide that teaches just one major! No performance degrees or composition – this college is dedicated only to teaching music education, which is the training of future K-12 music teachers.
Vandercook has an affiliation with the Illinois Institute of Technology; in fact, Vandercook is housed on IIT’s campus! Students can mix their music ed classes with regular academic courses at IIT.
For the bachelor’s program, called BMEd (Bachelor’s in Music Education), you can choose between focusing on choral or instrumental teaching. Graduates have gone onto jobs teaching music in schools, directing bands & choirs, conducting youth orchestras, and more.
Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago (not the Ivy League school in New York) is among the relatively few schools specializing in modern music.
Its contemporary, urban, and popular music major gives students the opportunity to learn more about singing, songwriting, and playing a contemporary instrument.
What really sets Columbia College apart is how interdisciplinary the school is. The campus is home to filmmakers, dancers, visual artists, and musicians who frequently collaborate. You’ll frequently find music students scoring student films, collaborating with dancers, or working in the school’s recording studios.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Music
Though not in Chicago proper, UIUC’s School of Music offers something special just two hours from the city.
As a constituent school of a top public research university, UIUC is perfect for musicians who want to pair their musical studies with another field – whether that’s engineering, computer science, or business.
The school’s facilities are impressive: multiple performance venues including the historic Foellinger Great Hall, plus the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music, which houses musical instruments and scores.
Alumni success stories include Grammy-winning conductor James Blachly and Dai An Lu, principal harpist with Ecuador’s National Symphony Orchestra.
UIUC also stands out for its programs in music technology and composition, with one of the oldest electronic and computer music studios in the country. The school’s large size means more performing opportunities – multiple orchestras, bands, jazz ensembles, and opera productions run simultaneously, giving students plenty of chances to perform.
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola’s music program takes a different approach from Chicago’s conservatories and larger music schools. It’s designed for students who want a strong liberal arts education while keeping music as a serious part of their college experience.
Located on the lakefront in Rogers Park, the program strikes a nice balance – you can throw yourself into ensembles and music courses while pursuing other academic interests.
The program particularly shines in sacred and choral music, which makes sense given Loyola’s Jesuit tradition. Students get hands-on experience with the school’s three chapel organs, including a renowned Goulding & Wood instrument.
While it’s not trying to compete with the city’s dedicated music schools – like DePaul & Northwestern – Loyola offers something valuable: a chance to pursue music seriously within a broader university education, all while enjoying easy access to Chicago’s musical scene.
North Park University School of Music, Art, and Theatre
North Park’s music program may not be the biggest name in Chicago, but it’s developed a solid reputation, especially for its jazz and gospel programs.
Located in Albany Park on the city’s north side, this Christian liberal arts university offers something unique: intimate class sizes and personal attention, combined with the musical opportunities of a major city.
Their jazz and gospel ensembles regularly perform around Chicago, and the school has strong ties to the city’s vibrant church music scene.
While not exclusively focused on music performance, North Park shines in preparing students for careers that blend music with other interests.
Their sacred music program is particularly noteworthy, and the school’s emphasis on community engagement means students often find themselves performing beyond campus boundaries.
For musicians seeking a supportive, faith-based environment with strong jazz and gospel traditions – and without the cutthroat atmosphere of larger conservatories – North Park offers an appealing alternative.
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