Educads Rankings

23 Best Master's Music & Performing Arts Universities in United States

26 universities in the United States offer Music & Performing Arts master’s study in 2026, with 31 programmes in total. It is for applicants comparing where to pursue advanced study in performance, composition, and related areas.

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23 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
1Best overall
CI California Institute of the Arts logo
#263 in United States United States

California Institute of the Arts

Public University — The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is a private art school in Santa Clarita, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning i...

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
3Top pick
CU Chapman University logo
#368 in United States United States

Chapman University

Public University — Chapman University is a private research university in Orange, California, United States. Encompassing eleven colleges, the university is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High r...

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
4Ranked
CG Claremont Graduate University logo
#395 in United States United States

Claremont Graduate University

Public University — The Claremont Graduate University (CGU) is a private postgraduate research university in Claremont, California, United States. Founded in 1925, CGU is a member of the Claremont Colleges cons...

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
5Ranked
EI Eastern Illinois University logo
#621 in United States United States

Eastern Illinois University

Public University — Eastern Illinois University is a public university in Charleston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1895, EIU awards bachelor's and master's degrees in programs organized into four col...

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
6Ranked
KS Kent State University logo
#997 in United States United States

Kent State University

Public University — Kent State University (KSU) is a public research university in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university includes seven regional campuses in Northeast Ohio located in Ashtabula, Burton, East...

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
7Ranked
KS Kent State University at Kent logo
#998 in United States Kent, Ohio, United States

Kent State University at Kent

Public University — Kent State University at Kent is a public university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. Its programmes are accredited by US Dept. of Education (College Scorecard).

USD 23,082/yrTuition (indicative)
Founded
19,320Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
8Ranked
NS Norfolk State University logo
#1,362 in United States United States

Norfolk State University

Public University — Norfolk State University (NSU) is a public historically black university in Norfolk, Virginia. It is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and Virginia High-Tech Partnership.

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
9Ranked
NS Northwestern State University logo
#1,434 in United States United States

Northwestern State University

Public University — The Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA) is a public university primarily situated in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with a nursing campus in Shreveport and general campuses in Leesv...

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
10Ranked
OU Ohio University logo
#1,457 in United States United States

Ohio University

Public University — Ohio University is a public research university with its main campus in Athens, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1804, it was the first university established in the former Northwest Territor...

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
11Ranked
OC Oklahoma City University logo
#1,465 in United States United States

Oklahoma City University

Public University — Oklahoma City University (OCU) is a private university historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church and located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States.

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
12Ranked
PU Park University logo
#1,503 in United States United States

Park University

Public University — Park University is a private university in Parkville, Missouri, United States. It was founded in 1875. In the fall of 2025, Park had an enrollment of 4,949 students.

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
13Ranked
PI Pratt Institute logo
#1,565 in United States United States

Pratt Institute

Public University — Pratt Institute is a private university with its main campus in Brooklyn, New York. It has an additional campus in Manhattan and an extension campus in Utica, New York at the Munson-Williams...

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
14Ranked
SC Savannah College of Art and Design logo
#1,733 in United States United States

Savannah College of Art and Design

Public University — Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is a private art school with locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and Lacoste, France. It was founded in 1978 to provide degre...

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
15Ranked
SC Simpson College logo
#1,767 in United States United States

Simpson College

Public University — Simpson College is a public university located in United States.

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
16Ranked
SI Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville logo
#1,814 in United States United States

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

Public University — Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) is a public university in Edwardsville, Illinois, United States. Located within the Metro East of Greater St. Louis, SIUE was established in...

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
17Ranked
TC Texas Christian University logo
#1,961 in United States United States

Texas Christian University

Public University — Texas Christian University (TCU) is a private research university in Fort Worth, Texas, United States. It was established in 1873 by brothers Addison and Randolph Clark as the AddRan Male &...

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
18Ranked
TU Tiffin University logo
#2,009 in United States United States

Tiffin University

Public University — Tiffin University is a private university in Tiffin, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1888.

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
19Ranked
UA University of Arkansas - Monticello logo
#2,084 in United States United States

University of Arkansas - Monticello

Public University — The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) is a public university in Monticello, Arkansas, United States, with Colleges of Technology in Crossett and McGehee. UAM is part of the Universi...

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
20Ranked
UH University of Houston-Downtown logo
#2,139 in United States United States

University of Houston-Downtown

Public University — The University of Houston–Downtown (UHD) is a public university in Houston, Texas, United States. Established in 1974 as University of Houston–Downtown College (UH–DC), it has a campus that...

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
21Ranked
UT University of Tennessee at Chattanooga logo
#2,271 in United States United States

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Public University — The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a public research university in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States. It was founded in 1886 and is part of the University of Tennessee System.

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
22Ranked
VU Villanova University logo
#2,345 in United States United States

Villanova University

Public University — Villanova University is a private Catholic research university in Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842 and named after Saint Thomas...

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated
23Ranked
WT West Texas A&M University logo
#2,412 in United States United States

West Texas A&M University

Public University — West Texas A&M University is a public university in Canyon, Texas, United States. It is the northernmost campus of the Texas A&M University System and accredited by the Southern Association...

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
27.3 / 100 · Rated

A master’s degree in Music & Performing Arts is for applicants who want study beyond a bachelor’s degree and are aiming for advanced professional or academic training. It suits students who already have a clear focus and want to develop higher-level work before entering performance, teaching, or further study.

The institutions in this group are public universities, and they differ in setting as well as in how transparent they are about cost. Some are in large-city locations, others are in smaller college settings, and published fee information is available only where the university provides it; applicants should not assume a cost from the degree type alone.

Before applying, confirm the exact programme title, entry requirements, tuition, and any audition or portfolio expectations. Also verify whether the course is full-time or part-time, which campus offers it, and whether international applicants have any additional conditions.

Frequently asked questions

Which are the best universities for Master's Music & Performing Arts universities in United States?

By our composite ranking, the top choices include California Institute of the Arts, California University of Pennsylvania, Chapman University. The full ranked list above shows QS positions, tuition fees and entry requirements for each one.

How much does it cost to study Master's Music & Performing Arts universities in United States?

Tuition varies widely by university and program, and international students usually pay more than domestic students. Every listing above shows the fee we hold for that program — labelled indicative where it has not yet been verified against the university's own published figures.

How are these universities ranked?

We use a transparent composite score combining QS World positions, each institution's star rating, academic breadth, internationalisation and student support — never paid placement. See our ranking methodology for the exact weights.

About Master's Music & Performing Arts universities in United States

This page lists Master's Music & Performing Arts universities in United States held in our database, ordered by a composite score that combines QS World positions, our editorial star rating, academic breadth, internationalisation and student support — never paid placement. Use the filters to narrow by subject, level, university type or location; every combination has its own address you can bookmark or share.

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