Songwriting programs are found at a variety of colleges, from major universities like the University of Southern California to dedicated conservatories like Berklee College of Music.
These programs are as varied as the music industry itself, with some focusing heavily on music production while others emphasize the business aspects of songwriting and publishing.
Through my experience helping students secure spots in these programs, I can tell you the key to getting the college acceptance letter for songwriting hinges on the following:
- Unique portfolio of original songwriting work
- Interviews conveying a great first impression
- Choosing the right audition material
- Well-written essays are helpful
- A solid resume
Many other things besides the above can help your chances, such as your academic background, but the above are some of the most important to consider.
While most of our featured programs are based in the United States, we’ll also explore some exceptional options in Europe, offering unique perspectives on songwriting and music creation.
Here are 10 of the best songwriting programs throughout the world.
Berklee College of Music
One thing I’ve learned from years of working with aspiring songwriters is that they rarely fit into a single box – they’re often multi-talented artists who want to explore every facet of music creation.
This is where Berklee College of Music truly shines, offering an expansive songwriting program letting students branch into performance, production, music business, and even film scoring.
In fact, Berklee is famous for offering students the option to double major in different musical disciplines. Some common ones include songwriting & performance, songwriting & business, and songwriting & MP&E (music production and engineering).
The program’s faculty are accomplished songwriters themselves, including individuals like Jon Aldrich, whose compositions have been heard on TV shows like “Touched By an Angel,” “General Hospital,” and “All My Children.”
Among Berklee’s many famous alumni include Charlie Puth, a songwriter and producer who has written multiple Billboard top-40 hits.
For academically ambitious students, Berklee offers an exceptional opportunity through its joint program with Harvard University, allowing qualified candidates to pursue degrees at both schools simultaneously.
University of Miami Frost School of Music
The University of Miami major that best fits songwriters would be its M.A.D.E (Modern Artist Development and Entrepreneurship) program. This particular major allows students to audition with original songs.
If you are a songwriter, you don’t even need to learn a cover to get accepted.
The M.A.D.E program works in tandem with the school’s Creative American Music (CAM) minor, which is actually the name of Frost’s songwriting minor.
What makes MADE particularly valuable is its approach to music creation, combining traditional songwriting and performance courses with music business education.
Any kind of class a songwriter may need in a future career is taught at Miami; everything from copyright management to licensing and marketing.
The program’s positioning within the University of Miami, which has seen its reputation soar in recent years, adds another layer of prestige; the university only takes about 1 out of every 5 applicants, according to US News.
Belmont University
Belmont offers two paths for songwriters: one through the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business, and another through the Belmont School of Music.
The Mike Curb College songwriting program, which accepts only about 1 out of every 4 applicants, hires faculty members with incredible credentials, including those with Grammy and Emmy awards. The courses at Mike Curb courses include those in lyric writing, audio engineering, and music business.
Students can alternatively pursue their songwriting dreams through the School of Music’s commercial music program, which features its own songwriting emphasis and distinct admission requirements.
Regardless of which path students choose, Belmont’s location in Nashville – America’s music capital – offers incredible opportunities for both networking and live performance.
Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts
Having only been founded less than 30 years ago, LIPA has established itself as one of the best contemporary music schools in the United Kingdom.
LIPA was actually founded In the 1990s by two visionaries: Mark Featherstone-Witty, the current chief executive of the school, and another individual, none other than the Beatles’ own Paul McCartney!
The school alumni have had an unprecedented impact on modern music through its alumni, which includes indie rock sensation The Wombats and rising star Holly Humberstone, who has over a million monthly Spotify listeners.
LIPA offers two distinct paths for songwriters: the “Songwriting Performance” degree and the “Songwriting Production” degree, with the latter placing additional emphasis on audio production skills.
Perhaps one of LIPA’s most compelling advantages is its financial accessibility – with annual tuition of approximately 20,000 euros for international students, it offers an amazing education at less than half the cost of many private US institutions.
New York University
NYU offers two distinct pathways for songwriters:
At the Steinhardt School, the “Music Theory and Composition: Contemporary Production and Songwriting” program stands out for its interdisciplinary approach, where songwriters regularly work with dancers, producers, and performers in real-world projects that mirror the industry’s collaborative nature.
Outside of experiential collaboration, students learn the mechanics of songwriting; there is a strong focus on music technology & production in this major, which allows students to produce their own music.
The other option at NYU is the highly selective Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, which accepts only 12% of applicants into its program.
Clive Davis’ program is meant for students who are interested in becoming “entrepreneurs” or musicians with a business savvy background. Classes include those in professional development, Ableton Live music software, music marketing, and more.
The institute’s faculty roster reads like a who’s who of the music industry, including The Roots co-founder Tariq Trotter, New York Times bestselling author & Plan B Entertainment (owned by Brad Pitt) head of audio Chris Morrow, and veteran performer Machan Taylor, whose performance credits include singing with Sting, Pat Benatar, and Pink Floyd.
University of Southern California Thornton School of Music
With a very low acceptance rate of 5% in some years, USC Thornton’s popular music songwriting program is, to my knowledge, the most competitive of its kind worldwide.
Based on my experience helping a handful of students who got accepted, they were extraordinary songwriters who crafted remarkable portfolios of original work.
The program’s Los Angeles location puts students at the epicenter of the entertainment industry, while its curriculum spans production, music business, and traditional music studies, culminating in an ambitious senior capstone project that leverages USC’s vast resources and collaborative opportunities. This final project often becomes a springboard for graduates launching into the industry.
Alumni of USC’s popular music program include a number of successful songwriters, including Remi Wolf, who boasts over 4,000,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone, and Alec Benjamin, whose debut album These Two Windows peaked at number 8 on the Billboard chart.
SUNY Purchase
SUNY Purchase’s Studio Composition program, a part of the school’s Conservatory of Music, has become a hidden gem school for aspiring professional songwriters.
Alumni include critically acclaimed songwriters like Mitski and Regina Spektor, as well as electronic music pioneer Dan Deacon, whose music was extensively featured in the Adam Sandler film Hustle.
The program balances both hands-on studio production skills – including work with pro audio equipment and industry-standard software like Logic and Pro Tools – with songwriting instruction.
While not directly in New York City, the campus’s location is only 45 minutes from Manhattan by train, offering students the perfect blend: a focused creative environment for developing their craft, with easy access to one of the world’s most vibrant music scenes for performance and networking opportunities.
Elon University
Within Elon’s MPRA (Music Production and Recording Arts) program, students can pursue a “Songwriting & Composition” track.
What’s interesting about this track is how the school has a focus on both education and connections/opportunities.
The college has had students placed at companies like Warner Brothers, Cartoon Network, PBS, and SiriusXM, providing crucial real-world experience before graduation.
Elon breaks the “traditional conservatory” mold with performance opportunities through ensembles like the pop-focused Elon Electric Ensemble and the electronic music-centered Techtronica ensemble.
Additionally, Elon regularly hosts industry vets for masterclasses and workshops, including legendary songwriter Jimmy Webb (who has written songs for Carly Simon and Josh Groban) and acclaimed engineer Marcella Araica (who has worked with Beyoncé and Britney Spears at Dream Asylum Studios).
California Institute of the Arts
CalArts offers an unconventional approach to songwriting through its BFA in Experimental Pop Music; here, students are encouraged to write music using the resources of the modern recording studio.
I would say the program is ideally suited for self-motivated artists. CalArts is very much what you make of it as a student, and for someone who is self-driven, it can be a great option to pursue.
What sets CalArts apart is its commitment to musical diversity – the curriculum extends beyond pop to embrace non-Western musical traditions and cutting-edge music technology. This cross-cultural, technology-forward approach helps their songwriting students develop a signature musical voice.
What I also like about the CalArts program is how interdisciplinary the school is. CalArts has not only musicians on campus, but also dancers, filmmakers, visual artists, and more. Students frequently collaborate with creatives with all kinds of backgrounds.
Institute of Contemporary Music Performance
As one of our top international picks, ICMP has multiple campuses across the UK in cities like London, Leeds, and Liverpool.
Their Songwriting and Artist Development major exemplifies a modern approach to music education, blending songwriting instruction with music business knowledge, covering everything from artist management to royalties and industry sales.
What truly sets ICMP apart is its laser focus on contemporary music – unlike traditional conservatories that primarily emphasize classical or jazz traditions, ICMP is one of the few institutions globally dedicated exclusively to modern music education.
This specialized focus means every resource, facility, and faculty member is aligned with the current music industry’s needs and practices.
