Are There Music Rankings?

If you’re considering going to college to study and play music, you might be wondering if there are college rankings you should look at before starting the application process.

The answer is complicated because many of the “top-ranked” universities like Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford are not known for their music programs. These stellar academic institutions typically don’t feature top music professors to study with on your instrument and do not enroll many music performance majors. A music experience at one of these top-ranked schools may offer some performance opportunities but less one-on-one instruction; curriculum may be more focused on music theory or music education rather than performance. So while they are top-ranked universities overall, they may not give you the music experience that you desire, especially for those looking to make a career of performing.

Accordingly, students who want to pursue a life in music as a performer often instead apply to schools with robust music performance offerings. Music conservatory schools like Juilliard or conservatory style schools generally have more to offer when it comes to the performance side of a music program. They usually have one-on-one instruction opportunities where students can learn from experts on the same instrument.

That being said, a top program for a violinist may be dependent on the faculty available to study with and may be different than for a percussionist, so looking at a ranking of music conservatory schools isn’t the solution either. The best professors for your instrument may be located at a school you haven’t even heard of yet.

Additionally, some students want to focus on orchestral music, while others might prefer chamber music or to be a soloist. There are also opportunities for singer songwriters, jazz, and composers.

Think about what you want to get out of a music program, how often you want to play, and what university experience you want to have. You could go to a music conservatory and have an entire education experience focused on performance, or you could go to a more traditional university and have a more blended experience of performance and academics.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to picking a music program. This is why it’s important to think about your music goals for college and beyond before you start the application process.

At Best College Consulting we orchestrate the college search for talented musicians. We custom match and expertly build your ranking of music programs that match your interest, talent level, location, and even budget. Our students confidently audition to follow their passion and land at their best music programs.