Best Music Schools in California

California has 30 colleges offering Music programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 663 recent graduates. Graduates in California earn $22,050 on average within two years — 18% below the national average of $27,045. Lower cost of living or industry mix may explain the gap.

Schools in CA

$22,050

CA Avg. Earnings

$27,045

National Avg.

354

Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Music in California

Public Schools (19)

$21,423

avg. 2yr earnings

Private Schools (9)

$23,408

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $1,985 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

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 94.7%

University of Redlands

Redlands, CA · Private

N/A

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 80.9%

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

$28,309

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $22,536

Graduates: 35

Acceptance: 24.5%

Biola University

La Mirada, CA · Private

$39,369

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,811

Graduates: 26

Acceptance: 60.1%

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

San Francisco, CA · Private

$15,922

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 51.9%

University of Silicon Valley

San Jose, CA · For-Profit

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $33,643

Graduates: 27

Acceptance: 51.3%

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$15,552

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $15,531

Graduates: 35

Acceptance: 47.1%

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$18,498

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $19,508

Graduates: 43

Acceptance: 8.7%

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

$29,322

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $20,976

Graduates: 50

Acceptance: 73.7%

#10

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

University of the Pacific

Stockton, CA · Private

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$18,087

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $21,569

Graduates: 26

Acceptance: 93.6%

#13

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

$20,596

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $18,089

Graduates: 69

Acceptance: 93.7%

#14

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $17,224

Graduates: 29

Acceptance: 34.4%

#15

Chapman University

Orange, CA · Private

$16,874

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $21,755

Graduates: 17

Acceptance: 55.6%

#16

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$22,648

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $17,822

Graduates: 87

Acceptance: 93.2%

#17

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, CA · Private

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $17,629

Graduates: 31

Acceptance: 25.9%

#18

California State University-Monterey Bay

Seaside, CA · Public

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public

$17,950

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $18,174

Graduates: 26

Acceptance: 86.7%

#20

California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $18,194

Graduates: 16

Acceptance: 91.9%

#21

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$25,580

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $17,245

Graduates: 58

Acceptance: 10.0%

#23

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $22,669

Graduates: 16

Acceptance: 27.8%

#24

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, CA ·

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $35,022

Graduates: 19

Acceptance: N/A

#25

California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, CA · Private

$18,087

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $18,859

Graduates: 17

Acceptance: 88.9%

#26

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, CA · Private

$24,615

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,947

Graduates: 36

Acceptance: 79.5%

#29

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

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?

Sonoma State University ranks #1 for Music in California with median graduate earnings of N/A within two years of graduation. There are 30 schools offering Music programs in the state.

How much do Music graduates earn in California?

Music graduates in California earn an average of $22,050 within two years of graduation. This is 18% below the national average of $27,045 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 62.8%.

Should I attend a public or private school for Music in California?

In California, private Music programs produce average earnings of $23,408 vs $21,423 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 19 public and 9 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in California

Construction Management $81,700 Construction Engineering $81,610 Construction Engineering Technologies $76,343 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions $75,984 Computer Science $72,889 Computer Engineering $72,447 Dental Support Services and Allied Professions $71,074 Computer and Information Sciences, General $68,388

All colleges in California →

Music in Other States

Texas New York Ohio Pennsylvania Illinois Tennessee New Jersey Florida Virginia Massachusetts North Carolina Washington View All →

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Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release.