<p>Hey guys! </p>
<p>I'm a freshmen in Oklahoma this year, 15, and wanting to major in music education in college. Problem is, I had planned on a career in the military for so many years, I haven't been looking into colleges for music, and I'm completely lost. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>-Kai</p>
<p>In my personal opinion, a relatively cheap one. Music education is one of those careers that unfortunately doesn't get the best salary, so you should avoid as much debt as possible.</p>
<p>I know a lot of my music friends ended up going to state schools - what are your Oklahoma colleges like? Any of them recognized for their music programs?</p>
<p>Welcome to CC! Check out the Music major forum here (scroll down a bit); you'll find lots of information there. I agree with the poster above, there are lots of good options at your state schools, and I think I've heard good things about OSU, for example.</p>
<p>You have music conservatories and music programs within larger universities. What are you looking for?</p>
<p>Some top conservatories (those institutions focus entirely on Music):
Berklee College of Music
Boston Conservatory
Cleveland Institute of Music
Curtis Institute of Music
Julliard School
Manhattan School of Music
New England Conservatory of Music</p>
<p>Some good music programs within larger universities:
Bard College
Bennington College
Boston College
Boston University
Bucknell University
Carnegie Mellon University *
Case Western Reserve University
DePauw University
Florida State University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Indiana University-Bloomington *
Ithaca College
Johns Hopkins University *
Knox College
Lawrence University (LAC with world class conservatory) *
Mills College
New York University
Northwestern University *
Oberlin University (LAC with world class conservatory) *
Rice University *
St. Olaf College
University of California-Los Angeles
University of Cincinnati
University of Colorado-Boulder
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor *
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Oklahoma
University of the Pacific
University of Rochester *
University of Southern California
Vanderbilt University *
Wesleyan University
Yale University *</p>
<p>*Denotes top music program</p>
<p>I thought BU and Miami's music programs were top?</p>
<p>I echo St. Olaf (which is not a large university). They have amazing choral and band and orchestra programs and many music education and performance majors, along with excellent liberal arts and sciences program. In addition, financial aid can be quite good, depending on the student and the family situation.</p>
<p>It is important that you are differentiating between a Music EDUCATION major and a PERFORMANCE major. If Music EDUCAIONis really what you want, you should definitely consider your own in-state universities first. The chances are there is a progam in-state that will meet your needs. If you want to try another part of the country for whatever reason, Florida State is excellent for Music Ed. So are SUNY Potsdam (Crane School of Music), and SUNY Fredonia. I mention these NY schools because I know them better than most, and the out-of-state tuition is quite reasonable.</p>
<p>Oh, and I forgot a very good one closer to your home, the University of North Texas</p>
<p>USNEWS rankings for MUSIC</p>
<ol>
<li>University of Rochester (Eastman School of Music) (NY) 4.9 </li>
<li>Indiana University-Bloomington 4.8
Juilliard School (NY) 4.8 </li>
<li>University of Michigan-Ann Arbor 4.7 </li>
<li>Curtis Institute of Music (PA) 4.5 </li>
<li>New England Conservatory of Music (MA) 4.4
Northwestern University (IL) 4.4
Oberlin College Conservatory (OH) 4.4
University of Cincinnati 4.4
University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign 4.4
Yale University (CT) 4.4 </li>
<li>Florida State University 4.3
Manhattan School of Music (NY) 4.3
University of Southern California 4.3 </li>
<li>Johns Hopkins University (Peabody) (MD) 4.2
University of North Texas 4.2 </li>
<li>Cleveland Institute of Music 4.1
University of Texas-Austin 4.1 </li>
<li>Arizona State University 4.0 </li>
<li>Mannes College of Music (NY) 3.9
Rice University (TX) 3.9
University of Colorado-Boulder 3.9
University of Wisconsin-Madison 3.9 </li>
<li>Ohio State University 3.8
University of Hartford (Hartt)(CT) 3.8 </li>
<li>San Francisco Conservatory of Music 3.7
SUNY-Stony Brook 3.7
University of Kansas 3.7
University of Miami (FL) 3.7 </li>
<li>Boston University 3.6
Michigan State University (NJ) 3.6
Temple University (PA) 3.6
University of Arizona 3.6
University of Maryland뺺ollege Park 3.6
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 3.6
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill 3.6
University of North Carolina-Greensboro 3.6
University of Washington 3.6
Westminster Choir College (NJ) 3.6 </li>
<li>Boston Conservatory 3.5
Ithaca College (NY) (NY) 3.5
Louisiana State University and A&M College 3.5
North Carolina School of the Arts 3.5
Southern Methodist University (TX) 3.5
University of Missouri-Kansas City 3.5 </li>
<li>Carnegie Mellon University (PA) 3.4
University of Oklahoma 3.4
University of Oregon 3.4 </li>
<li>Baylor University (TX) 3.3
Brigham Young University (UT) 3.3
California State University-Northridge 3.3
Catholic University of America (DC) 3.3
CUNY-Brooklyn College 3.3
DePaul University (IL) 3.3
Penn State University-University Park 3.3
University of California-Santa Barbara 3.3
University of Louisville (KY) 3.3
University of Northern Colorado 3.3
Wichita State University (KS) 3.3 </li>
<li>Bowling Green State University (OH) (NY) 3.2
Duquesne University (PA) 3.2
Rutgers-New Brunswick (NJ) 3.2
SUNY-Buffalo 3.2
SUNY-Potsdam 3.2
University of Florida 3.2
University of Georgia 3.2
University of Houston 3.2
University of Kentucky 3.2
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 3.2
University of South Carolina 3.2
University of Utah 3.2
Washington University in St. Louis 3.2 </li>
<li>Northern Illinois University 3.1
San Diego State University 3.1
San Francisco State University 3.1
Syracuse University (NY) 3.1
University of Alabama 3.1
University of Massachusetts-Amherst 3.1
University of Missouri-Columbia 3.1
University of Northern Iowa 3.1
University of Southern Mississippi 3.1
University of the Arts (PA) 3.1
University of the Pacific (CA) 3.1
West Virginia University 3.1
Western Michigan University 3.1 </li>
<li>Ball State University (IN) 3.0
California State University-Los Angeles 3.0
SUNY-Binghamton 3.0
SUNY-Fredonia 3.0
University of Connecticut 3.0
University of Delaware 3.0
University of Tennessee-Knoxville 3.0
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 3.0 </li>
<li>Emory University (GA) 2.9
Illinois State University 2.9
Indiana State University 2.9
Kent State University (OH) 2.9
Miami University (OH) 2.9
Northern Arizona University 2.9
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (TX) 2.9
Texas Christian University 2.9
Texas Tech University 2.9
University of Redlands (CA) 2.9</li>
</ol>
<p>Wow, didnt realize Temple and BU were that top. Also, where is Berklee on that list???</p>
<p>Great list above but again just to note, many of the schools listed do NOT offer a Music Education major. FSU, North Texas, SUNY Potsdam and Fedonia do, for example, but Eastman School of Music does not (at the undegrad level anyway).</p>
<p>In addition to Berklee where my son will be going in the fall. Check out McNally Smith College of Music in St.Paul. Very small but we were impressed. It was a close second.</p>
<p>KaiBC2010- you might want to read some of the posts on the Music Major forum. Lot's of info. Depending on your primary instrument, focus instrumental (orchestral or band), choral, or general music, there are a number of schools at the state and private level across the country. Some will require an audition, some won't. </p>
<p>If you want to repost your question on the music major discussion forum, you'll find many knowledgeable folks willing to help.</p>
<p>Check out Indiana and Cincinnati for low tuition and great music programs. Michigan is medium-priced but top-notch. Great private unis for both music and liberal arts are Northwestern, Rice, Tufts/NEC, Johns Hopkins/Peabody, and CIM/Case. I know a lot of people in the CIM/Case program, and they love it. Also, Case is pretty generous with merit and financial aid.</p>
<p>Those US News rankings are pretty accurate. That should give you a solid guide.</p>
<p>Rolling Stone Magazine ranks the University of Southern California Thronton School of Music as a Top-5 music school.</p>