Best Music Programs in the Northeast (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Art & Design Colleges in the Northeast
Regional list from Best Music Programs in the United States
This page ranks the 61 Music programs in the Northeast by the median earnings of Music graduates four years after completing, highest first. Stevens Institute of Technology leads the list at $61,943, followed by Northeastern University at $60,974 and Hofstra University at $56,847.
Across the listed programs, the median is $40,387, with figures ranging from $61,943 to $15,288. For 14 of the 61 programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 59% of the list, with 36 public and 25 private nonprofit schools represented. CUNY Hunter College posts the lowest average net price at $2,984, while CUNY Bernard M Baruch College ranks 2nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stevens Institute of Technology · Hoboken, NJ | $61,943 | $41,346 | $27,221 | 47.6% |
| Stevens Institute of Technology reports median earnings of $61,943 for its Music graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $41,346. | |||||
| 2 | Northeastern University · Boston, MA | $60,974 | $30,915 | $2,264 | 5.2% |
| Northeastern University admits 5% of applicants and its Music graduates earn a median of $60,974 four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | Hofstra University · Hempstead, NY | $56,847 | $34,176 | $28,219 | 68.1% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left Hofstra University with a median of $23,621 in federal loans, and the school ranks 882nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 4 | University of Connecticut · Storrs, CT | $56,104 | $25,097 | $15,193 | 52.4% |
| A public university in Storrs, University of Connecticut ranks 4th on this list and shows an average net price of $25,097. | |||||
| 5 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick · New Brunswick, NJ | $56,008 | $24,406 | $16,343 | 58.2% |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick posts median earnings of $56,008 for its Music graduates four years after completing, with an earnings cohort of 44 graduates. | |||||
| 6 | Monmouth University · West Long Branch, NJ | $55,526 | $30,988 | $18,924 | 89.0% |
| With an admission rate of 89%, Monmouth University reports median earnings of $55,526 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | Lebanon Valley College · Annville, PA | $54,235 | $26,979 | $20,788 | 83.8% |
| Lebanon Valley College carries an average net price of $26,979 and a school-wide median federal debt of $27,000 across all of its borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 8 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell · Lowell, MA | $53,384 | $17,163 | $9,943 | 83.0% |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell ranks 142nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Music graduates earn a median of $53,384 four years after completing. | |||||
| 9 | New York University · New York, NY | $52,841 | $37,050 | $16,977 | 9.2% |
| New York University reports an average net price of $16,977 for families earning under $30,000, alongside median earnings of $52,841 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 10 | University of Rhode Island · Kingston, RI | $52,346 | $21,440 | $14,368 | 72.2% |
| University of Rhode Island admits 72% of applicants and its Music graduates earn a median of $52,346 four years after completing. | |||||
| 11 | Ithaca College · Ithaca, NY | $51,338 | $33,926 | $21,901 | 69.0% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left Ithaca College with a median of $24,000 in federal loans, and the school ranks 1290th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 12 | Rhode Island College · Providence, RI | $51,090 | $9,478 | $6,378 | 91.8% |
| Rhode Island College reports an average net price of $6,378 for families earning under $30,000, and its Music graduates earn a median of $51,090 four years after completing. | |||||
| 13 | Montclair State University · Montclair, NJ | $50,418 | $15,566 | $10,880 | 87.9% |
| Montclair State University reports median earnings of $50,418 for its Music graduates four years after completing, with 59 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 14 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania · Indiana, PA | $48,630 | $16,804 | $12,364 | 90.8% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $26,798 in federal loans at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a public university in Indiana. | |||||
| 15 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH | $47,448 | $23,805 | $16,523 | 88.2% |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus admits 88% of applicants and its Music graduates earn a median of $47,448 four years after completing. | |||||
| 16 | Rowan University · Glassboro, NJ | $47,208 | $22,408 | $15,305 | 77.7% |
| Rowan University ranks 16th on this list and carries an average net price of $22,408. | |||||
| 17 | University of New Haven · West Haven, CT | $47,057 | $34,192 | $27,837 | 60.4% |
| University of New Haven posts median earnings of $47,057 for its Music graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 5. | |||||
| 18 | Duquesne University · Pittsburgh, PA | $46,217 | $37,730 | $29,986 | 83.6% |
| Duquesne University ranks 992nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Music graduates earn a median of $46,217 four years after completing. | |||||
| 19 | SUNY at Fredonia · Fredonia, NY | $45,794 | $15,897 | $9,395 | 77.7% |
| An average net price of $9,395 for families earning under $30,000 coincides with median earnings of $45,794 for Music graduates at SUNY at Fredonia four years after completing. | |||||
| 20 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus · University Park, PA | $44,241 | $32,875 | $19,845 | 60.6% |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus reports median earnings of $44,241 for its Music graduates four years after completing, and a school-wide median federal debt of $25,000 across all borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 21 | CUNY City College · New York, NY | $44,058 | $3,776 | $1,251 | 60.0% |
| CUNY City College carries an average net price of $3,776 and ranks 48th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 22 | Rider University · Lawrenceville, NJ | $43,753 | $24,792 | $15,824 | 78.6% |
| Rider University admits 79% of applicants, and its Music graduates earn a median of $43,753 four years after completing. | |||||
| 23 | University of Hartford · West Hartford, CT | $43,700 | $30,282 | $25,925 | 95.8% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $27,000 in federal loans at University of Hartford, a private nonprofit university in West Hartford. | |||||
| 24 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania · Bloomsburg, PA | $42,481 | $15,699 | $11,374 | 93.1% |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania ranks 24th on this list and reports median earnings of $42,481 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 25 | Moravian University · Bethlehem, PA | $41,962 | $30,670 | $24,609 | 54.2% |
| Moravian University, a private nonprofit university in Bethlehem, reports $41,962 in median earnings for its Music graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 54%. | |||||
| 26 | SUNY at Purchase College · Purchase, NY | $41,926 | $18,913 | $11,835 | 74.1% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at SUNY at Purchase College left with a median of $21,067 in federal loans, and the Music program's median earnings four years after completing reach $41,926. | |||||
| 27 | Ramapo College of New Jersey · Mahwah, NJ | $41,659 | $18,173 | $9,008 | 70.6% |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey ranks 27th on this list and carries an average net price of $18,173, with $41,659 in median earnings for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 28 | Pennsylvania Western University · California, PA | $41,546 | $18,256 | $13,944 | 94.3% |
| Pennsylvania Western University admits 94% of applicants and its Music graduates earn a median of $41,546 four years after completing, drawn from a cohort of 5 graduates. | |||||
| 29 | State University of New York at Oswego · Oswego, NY | $41,122 | $16,236 | $8,714 | 80.6% |
| State University of New York at Oswego posts median earnings of $41,122 for its Music graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $8,714 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 30 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania · Millersville, PA | $40,713 | $20,787 | $14,565 | 86.2% |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania ranks 743rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Music graduates earn a median of $40,713 four years after completing. | |||||
| 31 | Temple University · Philadelphia, PA | $40,387 | $28,198 | $22,694 | 80.4% |
| Temple University reports $40,387 in median earnings for its Music graduates four years after completing, alongside a school-wide median federal debt of $24,395 across all borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 32 | Westfield State University · Westfield, MA | $39,692 | $16,721 | $10,751 | 81.4% |
| Westfield State University ranks 32nd on this list, with an admission rate of 81% and median earnings of $39,692 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 33 | Keene State College · Keene, NH | $39,603 | $17,887 | $12,192 | 90.3% |
| Keene State College carries an average net price of $12,192 for families earning under $30,000, and its Music graduates earn a median of $39,603 four years after completing. | |||||
| 34 | CUNY Hunter College · New York, NY | $39,600 | $2,984 | $1,029 | 53.8% |
| CUNY Hunter College ranks 20th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $39,600 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 35 | William Paterson University of New Jersey · Wayne, NJ | $39,553 | $18,745 | $16,171 | 90.1% |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey reports $39,553 in median earnings for its Music graduates four years after completing, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $22,334 in federal loans. | |||||
| 36 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania · Kutztown, PA | $39,549 | $21,331 | $15,957 | 90.8% |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania admits 91% of applicants, and its Music graduates earn a median of $39,549 four years after completing from a cohort of 10 graduates. | |||||
| 37 | Boston University · Boston, MA | $39,426 | $24,402 | $9,500 | 11.1% |
| Boston University reports median earnings of $39,426 for its Music graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $24,402. | |||||
| 38 | Berklee College of Music · Boston, MA | $38,617 | $49,465 | $42,734 | 43.5% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Berklee College of Music left with a median of $25,000 in federal loans, and the school admits 44% of applicants. | |||||
| 39 | SUNY College at Potsdam · Potsdam, NY | $36,677 | $13,624 | $8,623 | 77.7% |
| SUNY College at Potsdam ranks 39th on this list and posts an average net price of $8,623 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 40 | Western Connecticut State University · Danbury, CT | $35,889 | $17,604 | $13,507 | 87.0% |
| With an admission rate of 87%, Western Connecticut State University shows median earnings of $35,889 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 41 | New Jersey City University · Jersey City, NJ | $35,729 | $16,053 | $14,005 | 98.4% |
| New Jersey City University sits 41st on this page and carries an Azimuth composite rank of 270th among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 42 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania · West Chester, PA | $35,351 | $23,331 | $17,018 | 78.4% |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania posts median earnings of $35,351 for its Music graduates four years after completing, with 58 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 43 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College · New York, NY | $35,060 | $3,033 | $607 | 47.5% |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College reports an average net price of $3,033 and holds an Azimuth composite rank of 2nd among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 44 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania · Slippery Rock, PA | $35,060 | $19,608 | $12,555 | 71.5% |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania ranks 44th on this list and shows median earnings of $35,060 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 45 | University of Rochester · Rochester, NY | $34,888 | $29,278 | $9,678 | 40.1% |
| University of Rochester admits 40% of applicants and reports an average net price of $9,678 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 46 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst · Amherst, MA | $33,993 | $22,383 | $10,164 | 59.7% |
| An Azimuth composite rank of 145th among nonprofit four-year institutions accompanies median earnings of $33,993 for Music graduates of University of Massachusetts-Amherst four years after completing. | |||||
| 47 | The New School · New York, NY | $32,930 | $58,741 | $50,140 | 63.5% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at The New School left with a median of $22,266 in federal loans, and the school reports an average net price of $58,741. | |||||
| 48 | The Juilliard School · New York, NY | $32,842 | $43,571 | $30,168 | 9.2% |
| The Juilliard School admits 9% of applicants and shows median earnings of $32,842 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 49 | Salem State University · Salem, MA | $29,520 | $15,996 | $10,516 | 95.9% |
| Salem State University reports median earnings of $29,520 for its Music graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $15,996. | |||||
| 50 | Manhattan School of Music · New York, NY | $27,952 | $51,754 | $31,392 | 40.8% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $26,994 in federal loans at Manhattan School of Music, which ranks 50th on this list. | |||||
| 51 | The New England Conservatory of Music · Boston, MA | $26,985 | $46,754 | $47,882 | 41.1% |
| The New England Conservatory of Music admits 41% of applicants and posts median earnings of $26,985 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 52 | Bennington College · Bennington, VT | $26,241 | $30,947 | $18,480 | 44.5% |
| Bennington College ranks 1434th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with an average net price of $30,947. | |||||
| 53 | Adelphi University · Garden City, NY | $25,194 | $30,783 | $24,095 | 65.9% |
| With an admission rate of 66%, Adelphi University reports median earnings of $25,194 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 54 | Muhlenberg College · Allentown, PA | $23,649 | $28,905 | $12,302 | 72.0% |
| Muhlenberg College carries an average net price of $12,302 for families earning under $30,000, and its Music graduates earn a median of $23,649 four years after completing. | |||||
| 55 | Susquehanna University · Selinsgrove, PA | $23,579 | $28,819 | $19,757 | 81.4% |
| Susquehanna University ranks 55th on this list and shows an admission rate of 81%. | |||||
| 56 | SUNY Buffalo State University · Buffalo, NY | $21,166 | $11,346 | $7,405 | 73.0% |
| A public university in Buffalo, SUNY Buffalo State University reports median earnings of $21,166 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 57 | CUNY Lehman College · Bronx, NY | $21,052 | $3,148 | $1,589 | 56.6% |
| CUNY Lehman College ranks 42nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries an average net price of $3,148. | |||||
| 58 | University of Southern Maine · Portland, ME | $18,309 | $13,596 | $9,999 | 79.2% |
| University of Southern Maine admits 79% of applicants, and its Music graduates earn a median of $18,309 four years after completing. | |||||
| 59 | Mercy University · Dobbs Ferry, NY | $16,992 | $14,072 | $11,974 | 85.8% |
| Mercy University reports an average net price of $11,974 for families earning under $30,000, alongside median earnings of $16,992 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 60 | Gettysburg College · Gettysburg, PA | $15,922 | $31,490 | $13,625 | 38.9% |
| Gettysburg College ranks 60th on this list, with an admission rate of 39% and median earnings of $15,922 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 61 | State University of New York at New Paltz · New Paltz, NY | $15,288 | $18,809 | $10,541 | 61.6% |
| State University of New York at New Paltz ranks 61st on this list, reporting median earnings of $15,288 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Music graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the Northeast appear. The figure is the median earnings of federally aided completers of the program who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 14 of the 61 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between Stevens Institute of Technology and Northeastern University is $969, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom is $46,655.
Related rankings
- Best Music Programs in the United States
- Best Colleges in the Northeast
- Top Music Programs in the Midwest by Earnings
- Top Music Programs in the South by Earnings
- Top Music Programs in the West by Earnings
- Best Art & Design Colleges in the Northeast
- Art & Design Colleges in the Northeast for Social Mobility