Most Selective Highest Earnings Best Value Free Tuition UK Universities

Best Music Schools in California

California has 20 colleges offering Music programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 566 recent graduates. Graduates in California earn $22,718 on average within two years — 15% below the national average of $26,832. Lower cost of living or industry mix may explain the gap.

School choice matters significantly: Biola University graduates earn $39,369 while University of California-Riverside graduates earn $11,481 — a $27,888 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

20
Schools in CA
$22,718
CA Avg. Earnings
$26,832
National Avg.
286
Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Music in California

Public Schools (13)
$21,423
avg. 2yr earnings
Private Schools (7)
$25,123
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $3,700 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

Music Schools in California, Ranked by Earnings

#1
B

Biola University

La Mirada, CA · Private

$39,369
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $28,811
Graduates: 26
Acceptance: 60.1%
#2
N

Northeastern University Oakland

Oakland, CA · Private

$35,416
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $29,347
Graduates: 41
Acceptance: 16.5%
#3
C

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

$29,322
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $20,976
Graduates: 50
Acceptance: 73.7%
#4
U

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

$28,309
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $22,536
Graduates: 35
Acceptance: 24.5%
#5
U

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public

$26,353
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 62.5%
#6
U

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$25,580
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $17,245
Graduates: 58
Acceptance: 10.0%
#7
C

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

$25,194
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 98.8%
#8
A

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, CA · Private

$24,615
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $26,947
Graduates: 36
Acceptance: 79.5%
#9
U

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$24,369
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 11.7%
#10
C

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$22,648
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $17,822
Graduates: 87
Acceptance: 93.2%
#11
C

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

$20,596
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $18,089
Graduates: 69
Acceptance: 93.7%
#12
S

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$20,140
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 96.2%
#13
U

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$18,498
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $19,508
Graduates: 43
Acceptance: 8.7%
#14
C

California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, CA · Private

$18,087
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $18,859
Graduates: 17
Acceptance: 88.9%
#15
C

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$18,087
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $21,569
Graduates: 26
Acceptance: 93.6%
#16
C

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public

$17,950
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $18,174
Graduates: 26
Acceptance: 86.7%
#17
C

Chapman University

Orange, CA · Private

$16,874
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $21,755
Graduates: 17
Acceptance: 55.6%
#18
S

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

San Francisco, CA · Private

$15,922
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 51.9%
#19
C

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$15,552
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $15,531
Graduates: 35
Acceptance: 47.1%
#20
U

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public

$11,481
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 63.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Music in California?
Biola University ranks #1 for Music in California with median graduate earnings of $39,369 within two years of graduation. There are 20 schools offering Music programs in the state.
How much do Music graduates earn in California?
Music graduates in California earn an average of $22,718 within two years of graduation. This is 15% below the national average of $26,832 for this major.
What is the hardest Music school to get into in California?
University of California-Los Angeles is the most selective Music program in California with an acceptance rate of 8.7%. The average acceptance rate across Music programs in the state is 60.8%.
Should I attend a public or private school for Music in California?
In California, private Music programs produce average earnings of $25,123 vs $21,423 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 13 public and 7 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in California

Construction Management $81,700 Construction Engineering $81,610 Construction Engineering Technologies $76,343 Engineering, General $76,184 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions $75,984 Manufacturing Engineering $73,841 Engineering-Related Fields $73,096 Computer Science $72,889
All colleges in California →

Music in Other States

Texas New York Illinois Pennsylvania Tennessee Ohio Wisconsin Washington Connecticut New Jersey Indiana Massachusetts View All →

Get Music Career Insights

We're building major-specific salary reports with ROI analysis by school. Be the first to get yours.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.