My son plays rock guitar and some classical. He wants to continue to play in college, but he wouldn’t major in music. He would like to minor in music and perform. What groups (besides a rock band) use guitar? Jazz band? Orchestra? Any suggestions on great guitar/music departments for non music majors? He would likely go to school in the West unless some school wants to throw a lot of money at him. TIA!!
Does he play mainly electric? Does he have a classical guitar? Does he want to take lessons at college? Or just perform in extracurricular enembles orchestra? Guitar, which can be electric, acoustic or classical and play rock or classical or jazz, is used in many genres today, including contemporary classical (for example, check out the Princeton grad program for composition). Sharon Isbin plays with orchestras all the time. There are some really cool “new music” pieces for guitar. Lots of ways to go.
We actually called the music department at a liberal arts school that did not appear to have a guitar teacher, and they offered to find one.
Does he want to be in a city where he can gig?
Make sure that schools that have a performance degree (BM) don’t offer the best opportunities only to BM students. For that reason, the presence of a conservatory/music school on campus has pros and cons.
He might want to pick schools based on other criteria if guitar is not his main priority. Location, size, academics, “vibe” and of course cost. Then check into guitar opportunities.
He has an electric, acoustic, and a classical guitar. He plays the electric on his own daily. He has classical guitar club weekly at school. He would like to take lessons as well as play in a group. The group can be pretty much any genre. Thank you for your suggestions.
Because you mentioned going to school out west I just thought I would let you know that University of Utah has a well known Jazz/Classical Guitarist on their staff. I don’t know any musicians who go to University of Utah but my son is a graduate student there and he has been quite pleased with the music scene at the U.
What do you mean by West? California, AZ, NM, CO, UT??? And do you mean merit aid or are you expecting financial aid? How competitive is he academically? Not being nosy 
It just helps in thinking of schools. If too private, which is understandable, feel free to PM.
U. of Colorado Boulder has a good music school. http://www.colorado.edu/music/ Lots of schools in CA. Belmont in Nashille though a BM program is what I have heard about. USC Thornton ditto. U. of Puget Sound has a music school. Lewis and Clark is a BA music department. Mills has a lot of contemporary. You could check Pitzer and Pomona. State U.s and colleges in CA.
The main question I think is whether he would want to be on a campus with a conservatory/music school/BM program as opposed to a BA/music department (just saying that again).
If he chooses some schools he likes, the website will sometimes say whether guitar is offered, any type, and an e-mail to the music dept. helps. There also is the possibility of studying with a teacher off campus. Then the question is whether there opportunities to perform.
Good luck! Sometimes it’s tougher for the students who are multifaceted!!
You probably wouldn’t be interested, but Susquehanna University (PA) just gave my daughter a music scholarship for non-music majors. She will get $1,000 per year, but more importantly, free weekly piano lessons that come with one credit per semester. They will expect her to accompany choral groups and try out for ensembles. She is really excited - she loves jazz piano but doesn’t want to major in it. 