Best colleges for music in North Carolina
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in music, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for music in North Carolina44 schools
44 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in North Carolina.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in music, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Duke University
Durham, NC · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B+ · Top 23%
- 2
Davidson College
Davidson, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- 3
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- 4
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B · Top 42%
- 5
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade A- · Top 11%
- 6
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Winston Salem, NC · PublicExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B-
- 7
Elon University
Elon, NC · Private nonprofitTop 8% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade C+
- 8
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 9
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · PublicTop 15% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 10
High Point University
High Point, NC · Private nonprofitTop 16% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade C+
- 11
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · PublicTop 22% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B+ · Top 23%
- 12
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B-
- 13
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit#16 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade C+
- 14
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC · Public#17 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 15
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC · Public#18 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 16
University of North Carolina Asheville
Asheville, NC · PublicTop 22% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 17
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC · PublicTop 18% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 18
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC · PublicTop 17% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B · Top 46%
- 19
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC · Private nonprofit#22 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B-
- 20
Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, NC · Private nonprofit#23 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade C+
- 21
Salem College
Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofit#24 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B-
- 22
Brevard College
Brevard, NC · Private nonprofit#25 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade C+
- 23
Catawba College
Salisbury, NC · Private nonprofit#26 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B-
- 24
Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC · Private nonprofit#27 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B
- 25
Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, NC · PublicTop 7% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B · Top 39%
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke University | About $30,000 | $13,000 | $97,800 | 97% |
| Davidson College | About $17,000 | $18,688 | $81,400 | 91% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | About $12,000 | $14,000 | $72,200 | 91% |
| Wake Forest University | About $29,000 | $21,500 | $78,158 | 89% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | About $17,000 | $20,121 | $68,758 | 85% |
| University of North Carolina School of the Arts | About $15,000 | $23,870 | $38,357 | 78% |
| Elon University | About $42,000 | $20,500 | $74,545 | 84% |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | About $20,000 | $19,500 | $54,967 | 71% |
| Appalachian State University | About $17,000 | $20,231 | $51,836 | 75% |
| High Point University | About $39,000 | $24,575 | $61,389 | 74% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | About $15,000 | $21,500 | $57,289 | 69% |
| Meredith College | About $22,000 | $25,000 | $51,539 | 70% |
| Queens University of Charlotte | About $31,000 | $25,000 | $57,673 | 61% |
| East Carolina University | About $16,000 | $22,750 | $55,146 | 63% |
| Western Carolina University | About $13,000 | $21,868 | $49,458 | 60% |
| University of North Carolina Asheville | About $12,000 | $20,500 | $44,030 | 54% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | About $11,000 | $22,858 | $48,160 | 56% |
| North Carolina A & T State University | About $11,000 | $27,000 | $44,440 | 57% |
| Campbell University | About $25,000 | $22,500 | $54,886 | 61% |
| Warren Wilson College | About $21,000 | $25,000 | $36,260 | 42% |
| Salem College | About $18,000 | $26,649 | $44,640 | 57% |
| Brevard College | About $24,000 | $25,000 | $43,545 | 49% |
| Catawba College | About $18,000 | $25,000 | $48,793 | 47% |
| Gardner-Webb University | About $18,000 | $24,222 | $48,039 | 55% |
| Elizabeth City State University | About $6,000 | $21,463 | $40,026 | 44% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 21
- Arizona 5
- Arkansas 19
- California 70
- Colorado 17
- Connecticut 18
- District of Columbia 6
- Florida 29
- Georgia 33
- Hawaii 3
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 46
- Indiana 29
- Iowa 25
- Kansas 21
- Kentucky 20
- Louisiana 17
- Maine 6
- Maryland 14
- Massachusetts 31
- Michigan 28
- Minnesota 27
- Mississippi 14
- Missouri 30
- Montana 4
- Nebraska 13
- New Hampshire 6
- New Jersey 18
- New Mexico 4
- New York 59
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 48
- Oklahoma 20
- Oregon 17
- Pennsylvania 51
- Puerto Rico 6
- Rhode Island 6
- South Carolina 22
- South Dakota 7
- Tennessee 35
- Texas 56
- Utah 8
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 34
- Washington 16
- West Virginia 8
- Wisconsin 25