My D is a junior who wants to major in vocal jazz performance. We are looking at conservatories and LAC’s, leaning more toward LAC’s. So far, we have visited the following LAC’s: Ithaca, Purchase, UMass Amherst, and New Paltz. We will also probably visit Towson and Temple. Maybe see William Patterson, but D thinks it’s too close. Also saw New School Jazz and contemporary for their 5 year liberal arts/jazz degree. For those of you with experience, am I missing any Northeast LAC’s with jazz vocal majors? Any feedback on these schools, and other advice on the process is welcome!
Just to clarify, these are schools with BM programs, in music schools, rather than BA programs in a music department. In other words, your daughter is looking at conservatory environments within LAC’s is that right?
So when you say “we are looking at conservatories and LAC’s leaning more toward LAC’s,” I don’t really understand the distinction. Perhaps you are thinking that all conservatories are freestanding. But some conservatories are part of LAC’s, and some of the :LAC’s you list (for instance Ithaca Conervatory of Music and Purchase) are actually called “conservatories.”
Maybe what you mean is that your daughter wants to study on a campus that offers more than just music. But even that may not hold. For instance, at NEC or Berklee, classes can be taken at Northeastern which is close by. Berklee has a double degree now with Harvard as well, and merged with Boston Conservatory recently which expands offeriings.
You should probably add Berklee! 
If finances are an issue, merit aid at freestanding conservatories is sometimes not enough and more substantial financial aid is often available at conservatories/music schools attached to a college or university.
Yes, We are looking at a BM. You are correct…I am differentiating between an LAC with a conservatory vs a freestanding conservatory. Thank you for framing it that way. Berklee and NEC are on our list, but I was seeing them as freestanding. I’m glad you can take courses at Northeastern with Berklee and NEC. We are going to visit in April. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing any other colleges that have Jazz vocal BM programs in the northeast, as we plan for spring visits.
As for merit… I have been told it’s all about the audition? I am hoping that some schools consider academics when giving merit as well. Because like so many middle class people…no financial aid for us! My older daughter is getting a BA in music, which did not have auditions…but having been through the process we are experienced with merit and the paying for college part of the equation…sigh.
Bard has a BA in jazz studies that includes vocal, and is a little different: http://music.bard.edu/jazz/ Rutgers (Mason Gross), Temple (Boyer), Eastman/U. of Rochester, Peabody/Johns Hopkins, Hartt at U. of Hartford???..Barnard/Columbia, http://catalog.barnard.edu/barnard-college/courses-instruction/music/ …NYU? Sarah Lawrence (classes, workshops, ensemble) and Vassar http://music.vassar.edu/ensembles/jazz.html are good schools for music but not BM programs. I looked some of these up but not all of them 
Looks like I’m on target then. I had researched most of those. Temple and Hartford were on my list…forgot to mention. Thanks.
You did mention Temple Great list.
Several of the schools on your list are not true LAC’s. Ithaca College is a college as opposed to a University but that doesn’t make it an LAC.
I think what they are after is a conservatory or music school that is not freestanding, but is part of a college or university. And apparently they have already covered all the good choices.
Are you only considering Northeast schools because of a spring break trip? Or is that the only region your daughter is considering?
Just saw responses. We are mostly considering Northeast. Maybe considering McGill too. Rather not have her take a plane, though she may apply to CalArts.
Every jazz concert at Vassar had multiple jazz vocalists with the jazz ensemble and many of the jazz combos had their own jazz vocalist. Both S1 and S2 had jazz vocalists as part of their combo. Take a look at the jazz concert programs of the schools you are interested in and attend rehearsals and concerts. You may have many opportunities at a school that doesn’t have a dedicated jazz vocal major.