By TED Staff
March 2021
If you are interested in maximizing your potential as a music therapist, then you will need a master’s degree in music therapy.
Top Education Degrees went on the hunt for the best music therapy graduate degrees available in the U.S. We began our ranking by compiling a list of every university offering just such a degree. Then we used the points-based system below to rank each program based on important factors such as cost and return on investment.
Annual Out-of-State Graduate Tuition:
$10,000 or less — 5 points
$10,001 to $20,000 — 4 points
$20,001 to $30,000 — 3 points
$30,001 to $40,000 — 2 points
$40,001 to $50,000 — 1 point
Annual Percentage of 20-Year Net Return on Investment (ROI):
9%+ — 5 points
7-8% — 4 points
5-6% — 3 points
3-4% — 2 points
1-2% — 1 point
Graduation Rate:
Above 90% — 5 points
Above 80% — 4 points
Above 70% — 3 points
Above 60% — 2 points
Above 50% — 1 point
Student-to-Faculty Ratio:
5:1 and more — 4 points
10:1 and more —3 points
15:1 and more — 2 points
20:1 and more — 1 point
Note: In the event of a tie in points, the higher ranking has been given to the university with the lower annual tuition. Tuition numbers and other statistics were taken from The National Center for Education Statistics, and are accurate as of March 2021.
#30. Western Michigan University
Master of Music in Music Therapy
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Annual Tuition: $30,432
Total Points: 9
Located two hours from either Chicago or Detroit, Western Michigan University offers a Master of Music in Music Therapy. Admission to the program requires a bachelor’s degree in music therapy and an entrance exam, but no formal audition. The degree requires 30 credits to complete. Coursework includes Research in Music Behavior and Introduction to Research in Music, to name but two. A thesis and some professional field experience are also required.
#29. Arizona State University
Master of Music in Music Therapy
Tempe, Arizona
Annual Tuition: $26,160
Total Points: 9
Next on our list of the best master’s degrees in music therapy is Arizona State University. ASU offers a M.M. degree in Music Therapy. The program’s application process includes submission of references and a recorded audition. Students may choose between a two-year (32 credits) or three-year track (63 credits) for their M.M. Both require a thesis.
#28. Georgia College & State University
Master of Music Therapy
Milledgeville, Georgia
Annual Tuition: $18,846
Total Points: 9
Georgia College & State University is a public liberal arts university located about an hour-and-a-half from Atlanta. The university offers a Music Therapy M.M.T. which students are able to complete primarily online. Entrance to the program requires a bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy and an essay. An interview and audition are also required. Students may specialize their degree in one of five coursework areas, including special education and mental/physical health, to name but two. Thirty-five total credit hours are required for graduation, as is a graduate clinical project.
#27. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Master of Music Therapy
Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
Annual Tuition: $13,932
Total Points: 9
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a public university located about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh. The university offers a Master of Music Therapy. Admission to the master’s program requires a video recording of six songs, plus a resume and video interview. To graduate, students must complete 36-48 credit hours, depending on whether or not they choose to pair their master’s degree with a concentration in counseling. Required courses include Systems Thinking in Music Therapy and Social Justice Approaches to Music Therapy, to name but two. A final project or thesis is also required for graduation.
#26. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Master of Arts in Music Therapy
Saint Mary of the Woods, Indiana
Annual Tuition: $12,450
Total Points: 9
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is a liberal arts school affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. The college offers an M.A. in Music Therapy. Admission requires an audition, plus an undergraduate degree or credential in music therapy. Forty-three credits are required for graduation. Required courses include Music Psychotherapy and Contemporary Issues in Music, to name but two. An Advanced Music Therapy Practicum and a thesis are also required for graduation.
#25. University of the Pacific
Master of Arts in Music Therapy
Stockton, California
Annual Tuition: $48,904
Total Points: 10
University of the Pacific (UOP) is a private university affiliated with the Methodist church. UOP offers an M.A. in Music Therapy. Admission to the graduate program requires an undergraduate degree in music or some other field related to music therapy (special education, for example). A musical skills assessment is also required. Students may choose to follow a two-year path with or without a thesis. Another option is a three-year path consisting of two years of coursework and one year of an internship and clinical work.
#24. Drexel University
Master of Arts in Music Therapy and Counseling
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Annual Tuition: $36,234
Total Points: 10
Drexel University is a private research university. The university offers an M.A. in Music Therapy and Counseling. Admission to the program requires a bachelor’s degree in any field, as well as a personal statement and audition. Ninety quarter credits are required to complete the M.A. at Drexel. Coursework covers both music therapy and mental health counseling. The curriculum also includes clinical experience and a culminating project.
#23. University of Kentucky
Master of Music in Music Therapy
Lexington, Kentucky
Annual Tuition: $31,867
Total Points: 10
University of Kentucky (UK) is a large public research university situated in the midst of Thoroughbred country. UK offers an M.M. in Music Therapy. Admission to the master’s program requires a personal statement and an audition. Students must complete 30 credit hours in coursework to earn the Master of Music in Music Therapy. The curriculum includes advanced clinical training opportunities in and around Lexington. Students who have not already earned a bachelor’s degree in music therapy may pursue the equivalency/master degree program that UK offers.
#22. State University of New York at Fredonia
Master of Music in Music Therapy
Fredonia, New York
Annual Tuition: $23,100
Total Points: 10
SUNY at Fredonia is a public university, and part of the State University of New York system. Fredonia offers a Master of Music in Music Education. To be considered for the degree program, students must have a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, and do an audition. To graduate, 30 or 36 semester hours are required, depending upon whether or not a student chooses to complete final project. Coursework for either track covers both music education and music theory.
#21. Wartburg College
Master of Arts in Music Therapy
Waverly, Iowa
Annual Tuition: $22,500
Total Points: 10
Wartburg College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Lutheran church. The college offers an M.A. in Music Therapy. Admission requirements include a music competency screening and an online interview. Once admitted, students must complete 36 semester hours. Coursework includes Studies in Ethnomusicology and Research Traditions in Music Therapy, to name but two. A capstone research project is also required for graduation.
#20. Shenandoah University
Master of Music Therapy
Winchester, Virginia
Annual Tuition: $21,720
Total Points: 10
Shenandoah University is a private school located about 75 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. The university offers a Master of Music Therapy degree program. To be considered for admission, students should already have a bachelor’s degree in music therapy or creative arts therapy. A one-hour audition and interview is also required. Thirty-four credits are required to complete this master’s degree. Coursework includes Verbal Skills for Music Therapists and Advanced Theoretical Foundations of Music Therapy, to name but two. A thesis is also required.
#19. Loyola University New Orleans
Master of Music Therapy
New Orleans, Louisiana
Annual Tuition: $16,322
Total Points: 10
Loyola University New Orleans is a private Jesuit university. The school offers a Master of Music Therapy, which can be completed either on campus or online. Admission to the degree program requires an audition and interview, as well as a personal statement and current resume. Earning this master’s degree requires 34-36 hours of coursework. Those who do not already have a bachelor’s degree in music therapy or a related subject may complete an offered equivalency program.
#18. Augsburg University
Master of Music Therapy
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Annual Tuition: $13,165
Total Points: 10
Augsburg University is a private university officially affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The university offers a Master of Music Therapy. Students may complete this degree as a hybrid program — partly on campus and partly online. To graduate, students must complete 36 credits. This includes coursework such as Transcultural Music Therapy and Music Therapy Ethics, among others. A thesis or final project is also required.
#17. Alverno College
Master of Music Therapy
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Annual Tuition: $9,721
Total Points: 10
Alverno College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college. The school offers a Master of Music Therapy degree program which can be completed entirely online. To graduate, students must complete 36 credit hours. Students work closely with faculty to design a curriculum which best suits their personal interests and professional goals. Admission to Alverno College’s Master of Music Therapy program requires an interview and demonstration of applied clinical musicianship.
#16. Florida State University
Master of Music Therapy
Tallahassee, Florida
Annual Tuition: $24,116
Total Points: 11
Florida State University is a large public research university, and the main member of the State University System of Florida. FSU offers a Master of Music Therapy degree program. To earn the degree, students must complete 30-36 credits, depending upon whether or not they choose to complete a thesis. Potential coursework includes Medical Music Therapy and Music in Special Education, among others. An audition is required for admission to the Music Therapy program at Florida State University.
#15. University of Kansas
Master of Music Education in Music Therapy
Lawrence, Kansas
Annual Tuition: $23,951
Total Points: 11
University of Kansas is a large public research university. It offers an M.M.E. in Music Therapy. Applicants to the program must have already earned a relevant bachelor’s degree, and a substantial background in music. A video recording and GRE scores are also required. Once admitted, students complete 30 credit hours of coursework. Students may choose between a thesis or non-thesis track
#14. State University of New York at New Paltz
Master of Science in Music Therapy
New Paltz, New York
Annual Tuition: $23,100
Total Points: 11
SUNY at New Paltz is a public university located about 75 miles north of Manhattan. New Paltz offers an M.S. in Music Therapy degree program. Admission to the program requires a music skills assessment, as well as an interview. Once admitted, 48 credits are required to complete the degree. Coursework includes Repertoire in Therapy and Music Therapy for Older Adults, to name but two. Fieldwork and a thesis are also included in the curriculum.
#13. Montclair State University
Master of Arts in Music w/ a concentration in Music Therapy
Montclair, New Jersey
Annual Tuition: $18,432
Total Points: 11
Montclair State University is a public research university situated just 18 miles from New York City. The university offers an M.A. in Music with a concentration in Music Therapy. Admissions to Montclair’s music therapy program occur on a rolling basis. GRE scores and an audition are both required. Those accepted into the program must complete 40.5 credits of applied coursework.
#12. Appalachian State University
Master of Music Therapy
Boone, North Carolina
Annual Tuition: $18,271
Total Points: 11
Appalachian State University is a large public university. The university offers a Master of Music Therapy. Students work with an advisor to choose one of seven specialty areas. Options include Gerontology and the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music, to name but two. Graduation requires 36 credit hours of coursework, including a thesis. Students have the option of pursuing an additional Master of Arts in either Clinical Mental Health Counseling, or Marriage and Family Therapy.
#11. Nazareth College
Master of Science in Creative Arts Therapy w/ specialization in Music Therapy
Rochester, New York
Annual Tuition: $17,730
Total Points: 11
Nazareth College is a private college formerly affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. The now non-religious school offers an M.S. in Creative Arts Therapy which students may tailor towards their interest in music therapy. An audition and an interview are both required for admission to the master’s program at Nazareth. Once admitted, students may choose between a 48-credit Advanced Standing Program or a 60-credit Comprehensive Program. Each option includes hands-on clinical experience.
#10. Ohio University
Master of Music in Music Therapy
Athens, Ohio
Annual Tuition: $17,436
Total Points: 11
Ohio University is a public research university located about an hour from Columbus. The university offers an M.M. in Music Therapy. Admission to the program requires an audition/interview, as well as a statement of purpose. Coursework covers a variety of topics ranging from music education to music therapy. Research and time spent in classrooms are also built in to the curriculum.
#9. Texas Woman’s University
Master of Music Therapy
Denton, Texas
Annual Tuition: $12,415
Total Points: 11
Texas Woman’s University is a coeducational university located near Dallas. The university offers a Master of Music Therapy degree program. Thirty-six total semester credit hours are required to earn TWU’s M.M.T. degree. Coursework includes Multicultural Perspectives in Music Therapy and Music Theory Pedagogy, among others. Independent Study and Music Therapy Research are also a part of the curriculum, as is a thesis.
#8. University of Miami
Master of Music in Music Therapy
Coral Gables, Florida
Annual Tuition: $39,060
Total Points: 12
University of Miami is a private research university located in southern Florida. The university offers an M.M.T. degree for those who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in music therapy. The application process does require an audition. Clinical practice and research are important elements of the curriculum for University of Miami’s master’s degree program. Additionally, students may choose whether or not they would like to complete a thesis.
#7. Molloy College
Master of Science in Music Therapy
Rockville Centre, New York
Annual Tuition: $21,510
Total Points: 12
Molloy College is a private Catholic university situated on Long Island, about 28 miles from New York City. The college offers an M.S. in Music Therapy. Earning this degree requires 48-60 credits, depending upon whether or not a student already possesses a music therapy degree. Potential coursework includes Survey of World Music and Intro to Guided Imagery and Music. A thesis and internship are also included in the curriculum. To apply to Molloy College’s M.S. in Music Therapy degree program, an audition is required.
#6. Maryville University of Saint Louis
Master of Music Therapy
Town and Country, Missouri
Annual Tuition: $14,346
Total Points: 12
Maryville University of Saint Louis is a private university located in a suburb of Saint Louis. The university offers an M.M.T. degree program. To apply to the music therapy program at Maryville University, students must undergo an interview and an audition. Thirty-six credits are required to earn this master’s degree. Coursework includes Music Neuroscience and Research Methods in Rehabilitation, to name but two.
#5. Immaculata University
Master of Music Therapy and Counseling
Immaculata, Pennsylvania
Annual Tuition: $12,780
Total Points: 12
Immaculata University is a private Roman Catholic university. It offers two different music therapy graduate degrees: a Master of Arts in Music Therapy, and a Master of Music Therapy and Counseling. Earning either degree requires 48-60 credits, depending upon whether or not a student has also earned an undergraduate music therapy degree. Potential coursework includes Music Skills for Therapy, and Ethical and Professional Orientation in Music Therapy, among others. GRE scores are not required for admission into Immaculata’s graduate program, but an audition is.
#4. New York University
Master of Arts in Music Therapy
New York, New York
Annual Tuition: $34,704
Total Points: 13
New York University is a private university which dates back to 1831. The top-ranked university offers an M.A. in Music Therapy degree program. This degree is highly selective, and can be pursued on either a part- or full-time basis. Completing the degree requires 48-60 credits. The curriculum includes plenty of observation and internship opportunities located throughout New York City. Research opportunities through the prestigious Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy are also available.
#3. Colorado State University
Master of Music w/ specialization in Music Therapy
Fort Collins, Colorado
Annual Tuition: $25,791
Total Points: 13
Colorado State University, a large public university, offers a Master of Music degree with a specialization in music therapy. The degree can be completed on campus in Fort Collins, or entirely online, from anywhere in the world. To graduate, students must complete 30-32 credits. Coursework includes Historic Foundations of Music Therapy and Composition for Music Therapy Practitioners, to name but two. A practicum and thesis are also required before graduation.
#2. Temple University
Master of Music Therapy
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Annual Tuition: $23,346
Total Points: 13
Temple University is a public research university offering an M.M.T. degree. Students may customize their degree by choosing between two tracks: Music Medicine or Music Psychotherapy. Additionally, students may complete more coursework to earn Professional Counselor licensure. Potential classes include Music Therapy Ethics and Developmental Music Therapy, among others. A master’s final project is also required before graduation.
#1. University of Minnesota
Master of Arts in Music Therapy
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Annual Tuition: $27,204
Total Points: 14
Topping our list of the best master’s degrees in music therapy is University of Minnesota, a large public research university. UM offers an M.A. in Music Therapy specifically for music therapists who have already earned an undergraduate degree in music therapy and who are board certified. Thirty credits are required to complete this degree. Coursework includes directed individual study, as well as a master’s research project. The degree culminates in a final oral examination.
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