1,109 Best Music & Performing Arts Programs in the United States

1,109 Music & Performing Arts courses are taught at 492 universities in the United States; the most common length is 4 years. The list starts with courses at Cornell University, University of Chicago and Princeton University.

Subject

Level

University type

Location

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Universities 492 Programs 1,109 Scholarships 566

313Program

#552 in United States Purchase, New York, United States

Music: Instrumental Performance

SUNY at Purchase College — The Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Performance at SUNY Purchase College is a comprehensive program designed for aspiring musicians looking to hone their skills in a sp...

—Level

—Duration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

314Program

#552 in United States Purchase, New York, United States

Music: Jazz Studies

SUNY at Purchase College — The Music: Jazz Studies degree at SUNY Purchase College offers students an immersive journey into the world of jazz, its rich history, theoretical frameworks, and perform...

—Level

—Duration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

315Program

#552 in United States Purchase, New York, United States

Music: Studio Composition

SUNY at Purchase College — The Music: Studio Composition degree at SUNY at Purchase College is a dynamic program designed for students seeking to develop their compositional skills in a state-of-th...

—Level

—Duration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

316Program

#552 in United States Purchase, New York, United States

Music: Studio Production

SUNY at Purchase College — The Music: Studio Production degree at SUNY Purchase College offers a comprehensive exploration of music creation, sound recording, and the art of audio engineering. This...

—Level

—Duration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

317Program

#552 in United States Purchase, New York, United States

Music: Voice and Opera Studies

SUNY at Purchase College — The Music: Voice and Opera Studies program at SUNY Purchase College offers an immersive experience for students passionate about vocal performance and opera. The curricul...

—Level

—Duration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

318Bachelor's Degree

#552 in United States Purchase, New York, United States

Theatre and Performance

SUNY at Purchase College — The Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre and Performance at SUNY Purchase College is designed to immerse students in the vibrant world of live performance. Covering a wide range...

Bachelor's DegreeLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

319Bachelor's Degree

#553 in United States United States

Dance

Franklin and Marshall College

Bachelor's DegreeLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

320Bachelor's Degree

#553 in United States United States

Music

Franklin and Marshall College

Bachelor's DegreeLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

321Bachelor's Degree

#553 in United States United States

Theatre

Franklin and Marshall College

Bachelor's DegreeLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

322Bachelor's Degree

#554 in United States United States

Theatre

Southwestern University — The Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre at Southwestern University offers a comprehensive exploration of the theatrical arts, combining performance, production, and design eleme...

Bachelor's DegreeLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

323Bachelor's Degree

#555 in United States United States

Music

Fairfield University — The Bachelor's Degree in Music at Fairfield University offers a comprehensive exploration of music theory, history, performance, and composition. Students delve into vari...

Bachelor's DegreeLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

324Bachelor's Degree

#556 in United States United States

Dance

Jacksonville University — The Bachelor’s Degree in Dance at Jacksonville University provides students with a comprehensive education in various dance styles, techniques, and performance practices....

Bachelor's DegreeLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

325Bachelor's Degree

#556 in United States United States

Theatre

Jacksonville University — The Bachelor's Degree in Theatre at Jacksonville University offers students an immersive experience in the world of performing arts, combining practical performance skill...

Bachelor's DegreeLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

326Bachelor's Degree

#563 in United States United States

Dance

Mount Holyoke College — The Bachelor's Degree in Dance at Mount Holyoke College immerses students in the dynamic field of dance through a comprehensive curriculum that combines theory, practice,...

Bachelor's DegreeLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

327Bachelor's Degree

#563 in United States United States

Music

Mount Holyoke College — The Bachelor's Degree in Music at Mount Holyoke College offers students a comprehensive exploration of music in its cultural, historical, and technical contexts. The curr...

Bachelor's DegreeLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

328Program

#567 in United States United States

Acting

Oklahoma City University — The Acting degree at Oklahoma City University is designed for students passionate about performing arts and looking to hone their craft in a supportive and creative envir...

—Level

—Duration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

329Master's Degree

#567 in United States United States

Master of Music: Performance

Oklahoma City University — The Master of Music in Performance at Oklahoma City University is designed to nurture and develop the artistry of musicians through rigorous training and performance oppo...

Master's DegreeLevel

1–2 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

330Bachelor's Degree

#572 in United States United States

Theatre

Suffolk University — The Theatre Bachelor's Degree at Suffolk University is designed to nurture creativity and technical skills through a comprehensive curriculum. Students engage in a dynami...

Bachelor's DegreeLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

331Bachelor's Degree

#574 in United States United States

Dance

Union College — About the Dance ProgramThe Bachelor’s Degree in Dance at Union College provides students with a comprehensive education in the art of dance, integrating performance, chor...

Bachelor's DegreeLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

332Bachelor's Degree

#574 in United States United States

Global and Popular Musics

Union College — The Global and Popular Musics course at Union College explores the multifaceted landscape of music across various cultures and popular genres. This program delves into th...

Bachelor's DegreeLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

333Bachelor's Degree

#574 in United States United States

Music

Union College — The Bachelor of Music program at Union College is designed to cultivate a profound understanding of music while honing practical skills in performance, composition, and m...

Bachelor's DegreeLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

334Bachelor's Degree

#574 in United States United States

Music Technology

Union College — The Music Technology Bachelor's Degree at Union College offers a comprehensive approach to the intersection of music, technology, and creativity. This program covers vari...

Bachelor's DegreeLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

335Bachelor's Degree

#574 in United States United States

Musical Theater and Vocal Performance

Union College — The Bachelor's Degree in Musical Theater and Vocal Performance at Union College delves into the world of performing arts, providing students with a unique combination of...

Bachelor's DegreeLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

336Bachelor's Degree

#574 in United States United States

Theater

Union College — The Bachelor’s Degree in Theater at Union College offers a comprehensive exploration of the theatrical arts, blending theory, practice, and production experiences. The pr...

Bachelor's DegreeLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

Fall, SpringIntake

Music & Performing Arts

View program → About the university

Music & Performing Arts at other levels

Bachelor's Music & Performing Arts Diploma Music & Performing Arts Master's Music & Performing Arts Professional Music & Performing Arts

Related subjects

Music Theatre & Drama

Popular collections

Bachelor's Programs Social Sciences & Psychology Programs Business & Management Programs Medicine & Health Sciences Programs Master's Programs Education Programs Bachelor's Social Sciences & Psychology Programs Engineering Programs Computer Science & IT Programs Bachelor's Business & Management Programs

How these courses are ranked

37 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #13 (Cornell University) to #596 (University of Iowa); they are listed first, in that order. The rest are ordered by research impact. Cornell University has the largest research record in this group, with 57,855,264 citations and an h-index of 1,875. 5 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Levels, lengths and start dates

By level: 802 bachelor's, 40 master's, 30 diploma and 22 professional. Within the subject, the largest areas are Music & Performing Arts (1,053), Music (26), Theatre & Drama (11) and Dance (8). The usual length is 4 years and 2 years. 99% are full-time and 15 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (98% of courses with a stated intake). Berklee College of Music offers the widest choice, with 42 of these courses.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities for Music & Performing Arts in the United States?

Cornell University (QS World #13), University of Chicago (QS World #13) and Princeton University (QS World #15) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for Music & Performing Arts in the United States?

Of those with published fees, Wayne State College is the least expensive at about USD 8,216 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.

How long does a Music & Performing Arts course take in the United States?

Most listed courses run 4 years, with 2 years the next most common.

When do Music & Performing Arts courses start in the United States?

Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Can I study Music & Performing Arts online with a university in the United States?

15 of these courses are listed as online.

Which university has the most Music & Performing Arts courses in the United States?

Berklee College of Music, with 42, ahead of Rice University (20).

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