15 Good Jazz Universities / colleges 2026 | jazz music schools in the world

Top 15 Jazz Universities And colleges In The US | Best jazz music schools in the world. Studying jazz at one of the many great music schools in the USA is something that many aspiring jazz musicians consider as they start along the road to becoming a professional musician. Kamerpower.com

Is a jazz degree worth it? Jazz is a uniquely American form of music, and the country has no shortage of great jazz schools. As the jazz programs have evolved, they’ve also grown, with many schools now offering master’s and doctoral programs in the field.

Students can pursue degrees in performance, both vocal and instrumental, as well as jazz composition, depending on the school. In this article, we will get details of the best jazz schools in the United States, from what degrees they offer to the admission Requirements. 

There is also a difference in overall experience between going to a conservatoire (or conservatory) and a university that has a jazz degree program – this is definitely worth considering too.

Good jazz music schools in Europe

• Rytmisk Musikkonservatorium, Copenhagen.
• Jazz Department, Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris.
• Jazz Department, Conservatorium van Amsterdam.
• Jazz-Institut Berlin, Hochschule für Musik Hans Eisler, Universität der Künste.

What Are The Top Jazz Schools in the US?

• California Institute of the Arts. 
• The University of Michigan.
• The Juilliard School.
• Columbia University. 
• University of Southern California.
• The University of California.
• Oberlin College. 
• University of Miami
• The University of Texas at Austin. 
• Northwestern University.

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How much money can I make after earning a degree from a university jazz program?

The earnings potential varies by occupation, especially for those working as jazz musicians. Once you’ve graduated from a university jazz program, gained performance experience, you will want to know how much money you can earn. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), musicians and singers earn a median hourly wage of $31.40. While the lowest-paid 10 percent earn less than half the median hourly wage, the highest 10% earn more than $87.47 per hour.

Jazz Universities for jazz music studies / programs

1. Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (Bloomington, IN)

Jazz studies is one of the subjects students can pursue at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where they’ll learn about not only performing jazz music but also its history, composition, and other topics that provide an intimate understand of the musical genre. The music school has numerous instrumental and vocal ensembles, including five focusing on jazz.

2. University of Miami Frost School of Music (Coral Gables, FL)

The Frost School of Music has numerous jazz degrees available within its Department of Studio Music & Jazz. Students can earn a bachelor’s degree in either vocal or instrumental studio jazz, taking classes in performance and more technical subjects, such as composition and improvisation. 

3. Oberlin Conservatory of Music (Oberlin, OH)

At Oberlin, students can choose from 42 areas of private study, including jazz composition and jazz performance. Oberlin also offers a dual-degree program in which music students can earn a bachelor of arts in addition to a bachelor of music. This makes it possible for them to earn a degree not only in an area like jazz performance but also history, law, and other topics.

4. Manhattan School of Music (New York, NY)

The jazz program at the Manhattan School of Music offers bachelor’s and master’s in music plus a doctorate in jazz arts advancement. Undergraduates can major in various instruments within the jazz program, but vocal studies are only offered at the master’s and doctoral levels. The school also offers a master’s degree in jazz composition. 

5. University of North Texas College of Music (Denton, TX)

The University of North Texas’ College of Music recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of its jazz program, which offered the first jazz studies degree in the world. In addition to the bachelor of music in jazz studies, the UNT offers two graduate degrees. In the master of music in jazz studies program, students can take either the jazz performance or jazz composition track. Students pursuing a doctorate in performance can choose the jazz concentration.

6. The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music (New York, NY)

Students can earn a bachelor’s degree in fine arts in jazz and contemporary music in which they focus on either an instrument or vocals. Or, they can pursue the dual-degree track, a five-year program in which they earn the BFA as well as a liberal arts bachelor’s degree. 

7. University of Southern California Thornton School of Music (Los Angeles, CA)

The University of Southern California’s jazz studies program was one of the country’s first, and its alumni and faculty members have been nominated for prestigious awards like the Grammys. Jazz musicians can pursue not only undergraduate degrees in the specialty but also graduate degrees, certificates, and diplomas. 

8. The Juilliard School (New York, NY)

Students learn from highly respected jazz performers when they attend the Julliard School. In addition to honing their performance skills in private lessons, students take a mix of other classes to best prepare them for careers in not only the music industry but also the wider world. That means undergraduate lessons include music theory and history as well as the liberal arts.

9. New England Conservatory of Music (Boston, MA)

The first fully accredited program of its kind at the conservatory level, the New England Conservatory’s jazz program has trained performers for nearly five decades. Undergraduates interested in jazz can choose from two bachelors of music degrees, jazz composition or jazz performance. Double majors let them also earn a degree in music history, music theory, or composition, or they can add a second performance area.

10. The University of Michigan

Students at the University of Michigan’s department of jazz and contemporary improvisation receive rigorous training in mainstream jazz, among other forms of improvisation. The school is selective, with a 26% acceptance rate. In addition to several bachelor’s in fine arts degrees available at the University of Michigan, the school offers readiness for its master’s degree programs.

11. Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA)

Berklee College of Music offers lots of degree options, including undergraduate and graduate, not only at its original Boston campus but also online and at several Berklee satellite campuses spread around the world. These degree offerings include the bachelor of music in jazz composition, in which they learn about the history of jazz, attend live performances, and learn the various techniques involved in writing music. 

12. The University of California

The Herb Alpert school of music at UCLA offers bachelor’s degrees in global jazz studies designed for students seeking careers as jazz performers, jazz scholars, producers, and teachers. The school’s 14% acceptance rate means that competition for admission is fierce. But once they are accepted, students take courses that explore topics like the history and culture of jazz, improvisation, musical structure and instrumentation, and studio instruction.

13. Columbia University

The top university jazz program on our list is offered at the center for jazz studies at Columbia University. This highly selective program has been offering jazz studies through its renowned Louis Armstrong performance program. At the core of the program is an interdisciplinary jazz studies degree that offers performance opportunities for aspiring musicians.

14. Northwestern University

Northwestern University’s Bienen school of music offers a bachelor’s in music with jazz studies emphasis. This highly selective program is designed to prepare students to enter graduate jazz programs or work as professional musicians. Students gain insight into the performance world through rigorous coursework offered in and out of the music program.

15. California Institute of the Arts

With a 27% acceptance rate and specialized jazz programs, California Institute of the Arts earns a top spot on our list of best university jazz programs. The Herb Alpert school of music was founded by jazz giant Charlie Haden as a creative alternative to academic jazz studies. Jazz students benefit from small ensemble performance and improvisation, close working relationships with mentors, and an apprenticeship model rich with rehearsals and recitals.