What about a music BA and a BA in another subject?
I don’t think I got my point across. MYOS1634 basically got it across better. 
If you want BM programs with contemporary music, USC Thornton , Berklee, Belmont, Miami Frost, Denver, Columbia College are often mentioned. These are well-known but there are others.
But these programs are mostly “just music” despite the fact that they are situated on a larger campus with other degrees and programs. I was trying to say there isn’t that much difference between studying at Berklee (which your son says he doesn’t want) and these programs.
If, instead, he wants a BA in music with the latitude and room in his schedule for another major, he could go to a college or university that does not offer the BM. This would be 1/4-1/3 formal music classes rather than the BM’s 2/3-3/4. This means checking out course listings very carefully for songwriting, history and performance of rock, and so on. Some BA programs don’t have performance in classes but offer lessons and extracurricular performance.
Tufts, and Clark U. come to mind. Bennington is a tiny school with a good music dept. Sarah Lawrence. Vassar. College of Wooster, Brown, many others. People can chime in with all kinds of suggestions. Even Harvard has broadened their once mainly classical focus for music majors.
Your son can also major in something else entirely and keep up with percussion.
For double degree, Oberlin, Lawrence, Ithaca, Bard, Tufts are often mentioned as are others like Michigan.
If he doesn’t want to do “just music” then I don’t really see the difference between Berklee and the other BM programs I just listed (others may know more about the specifics). If that’s not what he wants, then the thinking may need to change. toward BA in music or extracurricular music, which widens other possibilities at the same time that it narrows time in music classes.
If he comes back and says “I want music!” that’s a different story.
As you’ve discovered, jazz drum kit is typically an admission requirement, if not a major emphasis, of many programs. Even the Frost Contemporary Performance (BA) drum kit audition requires trading fours over an ostinato - which sounds a lot like jazz.
Look at Wesleyan, great school with a great music department.
Wesleyan is very strong in world music and to some extent experimental classical/electronic, but may not be a fit for the original poster. www.wesleyan.edu/registrar/catalog/musct.htm (Wesleyan is a “little Ivy” as is Tufts, Amherst, Williams, Bowdoin, Bates, Conn. College, Middlebury, might be leaving one out…)
It really helps to look at websites. Perhaps choosing some colleges based on size, location, academics and “vibe” first and then check out the music department websites- unless he wants conservatory/BM!
Steve Schick is at UCSD but again that is not popular music, but more experimental classical aka “new music.” Ditto Oberlin.
Here is Clark http://www.clarku.edu/programs/major-or-minor-music (make sure to read all the way to the bottom) and an example of a course http://catalog.clarku.edu/preview_course_nopop.php?catoid=18&coid=57470 Lessons are provided.
Look through websites to get a feel for different departments. This is just one example.
The little ivies are an interesting choice, particularly when it comes to the performing arts. Not everything takes place in the classroom. Many, many songwriters have come out of Wesleyan and Williams, including Academy Award winners, Kristen Anderson-Lopez (“Let It Go”, 2014), Allie Wrubel (“Zippity-Doo-Da”, 1946), Tony and Grammy Award winner Lin Manuel-Miranda (“Hamilton”), singer-songwriter, Dar Williams, the indie rock group, MGMT (“Kids”.) LACs in general are great places for students who aren’t quite sure about their professional goals and desire some experimentation. The little ivies, in particular, have superlative resources.
The little Ivies are very selective obviously (some are test-optional these days). The original post mentioned strong academics, so might be a good way to go.
Colleges that Change Lives is another great resource. And website research!
My bad. I think I mixed up @danfan72 (the real OP) with @dadinga whose DS seems more open to the non-BM route. Little ivies that are test-optional or “test-lite” (with options other than the standard ACT/SAT boards) include Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Connecticut College, Hamilton, Middlebury, and Wesleyan.
I mixed them up too!
Lin-Manual created In The Heights while at Wesleyan and it was first performed there, while he was a student. MGMT, Das Racist, Dar Williams, and the song writer for the Grateful Dead are alums. My son was told that he would have no problem finding people to jam with.
FYI: McNally Smith has closed – a huge loss to the music scene her in Minneapolis!
My D was accepted UC Denver 2022 MEIS . Seems like a great program on a smaller campus. Is your son still enjoying the experience?
Belmont in Nashville might be worth a look.
has she considered University of the Arts in Philly? https://www.uarts.edu/programs
I wonder if they are part of a consortium with universities in the area…