Florida has long been home to superstar musicians and recording artists. Musicians can find harmony with the state’s historic theaters and events that welcome genres from around the globe. According to Salary.com, Floridian music careers make an average of $43,875 per year.
Are Auditions Mandatory For Music Colleges In Florida?
Each school may have different requirements, but most expect prospective students to pass an entry audition. Students will usually perform with their instrument of choice, and may also have to pass a vocal audition depending on the major (for example: music therapy). Auditions may be held in-person, over video call, or pre-recording.
Top 5 Music Colleges in Florida
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Florida | Gainesville, Florida |
| 2 | Florida State University | Tallahassee, Florida |
| 3 | University of North Florida | Jacksonville, Florida |
| 4 | University of South Florida | Tampa, Florida |
| 5 | Florida International University | Miami, Florida |
Are There Other Requirements To Enter A Music School?
Some schools will want students to submit a recommendation letter from someone who knows them in a musical capacity. This can include former teachers, tutors, or ensemble members. Incoming freshmen may also need to take theory placement exams. Be sure to check with your school of choice to learn their specific enrollment requirements.
Interested in pursuing a music degree online? Use our Degree Finder to discover a program that fits your goals!
What Are The Best Music Schools In Florida?
We ranked a list of 20 Floridian schools that offer music programs. Our criteria included factors important to students such as in-state tuition, class size, and undergrad graduation rates. Check out the results below!
Best 20 Music Colleges in Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida’s School of Music awards degrees from bachelor’s to doctorate levels as well as professional certificates. In addition to performance majors, students can study music theory, music education, and music business management. The school hosts a Creative Professional Lecture Series as well as local outreach events through the Community Music School.
School Overview
Florida State University
The College of Music at Florida State University offers bachelor to doctorate level degrees across a robust catalog of programs. Students can major in performance, musicology, music therapy, and even more specialized programs. The college organizes over 350 live performances a year with its many orchestras, musical theatre productions, choral ensembles, and specialty bands.
School Overview
University of North Florida
The University of North Florida features bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Available majors include Performance, Music Education, Jazz Studies, and Piano Pedagogy. They also offer undergraduate certificates in fields such as conducting, music technology, and sacred music. Students may participate in national and international touring opportunities.
School Overview
University of South Florida
The School of Music at The University of South Florida offers degrees and certificates from bachelor to doctorate level. Areas of study consist of performance, composition, education, and jazz studies. The school is home to the Clarion Society, a non-profit dedicated to funding music education through exclusive private concerts.
School Overview
Florida International University
Florida International University awards bachelor and master music degrees. Students can study performance, composition, music business, education, or music technology. The school features regular masterclasses taught by internationally-recognized musicians. They also host a weekly music hour broadcast on WDNA.
School Overview
Florida Gulf Coast University
The Bower School of Music & the Arts at Florida Gulf Coast University offers bachelor’s degrees in music. Program majors include Music, Music Performance, Music Education, and Music Therapy. The U. Tobe Recital Hall hosts the Nisita Concert Series which invites national and international artists to perform.
School Overview
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University awards bachelor and master level degrees through the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters. In addition to performance majors, the school also offers commercial music and music education as areas of study. Hoot/Wisdom Recordings is the school’s student-run record label which records and releases singles and albums of student musicians.
School Overview
Stetson University
Stetson University holds an undergraduate-only School of Music that offers 13 degree programs in four areas: Music Education, Performance, Composition, and Academics. Students have opportunities to perform and participate in activities across the state, nation, and in some cases internationally.
School Overview
The Baptist College of Florida
The Baptist College of Florida is a private Baptist Christian institution offering undergraduate associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in music. Bachelor-level students can concentrate their B.A. in the fields of Worship Leadership or Music Education. All students are required to complete Biblical/Theological Foundation courses.
School Overview
Ave Maria University
Ave Maria University is a private Catholic university featuring undergraduate music performance degrees. Programs of study include composition, voice, piano, and organ. Students regularly perform across four different campus venues, including the Ave Maria Parish Church. They also participate in liturgies in regional parishes.
School Overview
Frost School of Music at the University of Miami
The Frost School of Music at The University of Miami offers music degrees from bachelor to doctorate level. Available majors include performance, music therapy, business and entertainment industries, and music education. Some graduate-level degrees and certificates may be earned fully online, such as Music Business and Live Entertainment Management.
School Overview
Rollins College
Rollins College provides bachelor’s degrees in music across many areas of study. In addition to performance, the School of Music also offers composition, music business, music education, history, and technology as majors. Students and instructors provide outreach and music lessons through the Community School of Music.
School Overview
Eckerd College
Eckerd College is a private liberal arts college with a strong emphasis on public service and student research and creativity. They offer a comprehensive bachelor’s program focused on performance, music history and culture, and theory and composition. Students in all majors may participate in classical, jazz, and rock ensembles and take private lessons in voice and all instruments.
School Overview
Florida College
A private non-institutional Christian school, Florida College awards bachelor’s degrees in Music and Music Education. While students will mainly participate in performances and recitals on their primary instrument, they may also take piano and voice classes. Private lessons are also available.
School Overview
Jacksonville University
The Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts at Jacksonville University provides bachelor’s degrees in music through the School of Performing Arts. Music majors can choose to concentrate in vocal, instrumental, or piano performance, as well as composition or jazz/commercial music. They also offer degrees in Music Business, Music Education, and Music Theatre.
School Overview
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University is a private Interdenominational Christian university offering a Bachelor of Music program. Concentration areas for the degree comprise Performance, Composition, Education, and Music in Worship Leadership. Students can volunteer to participate in many festivals on campus, including the Hispanic Heritage Festival.
School Overview
The University of West Florida
The Dr. Grier Williams School of Music at The University of West Florida awards bachelor’s degrees across four different majors. These include Performance. Music Education, Arts Administration, and Music & Outside Field. The department holds a distinction as an All-Steinway School.
School Overview
Bethune-Cookman University
Bethune-Cookman University is a historically black university associated with the United Methodist Church. They award bachelor’s degrees in Music and Music Recording Technology through the Department of Music. The College of Education also offers a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education.
School Overview
Barry University
Barry University is a private Catholic university offering two bachelor’s degrees: the 45 credit Bachelor of Music and the 37 credit Bachelor of Arts. Specialization areas include Instrumental Performance, Vocal Performance, and Music Education. Students can participate in collaborative outreach projects with local organizations.
School Overview
Southeastern University
Southeastern University is a private Christian university and the largest in affiliation with the Assemblies of God. They award bachelor’s degrees in 5 areas of study: Music, Music Performance, Church Music, Music Business, and Music Education. Students have the opportunity to perform in a variety of ensembles and local events such as “An Afternoon Melody”.
School Overview
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Our Ranking Methodology
We ranked 20 universities by tuition, student-faculty ratio, and undergrad graduation rate. Estimated semesterly undergraduate tuition was obtained directly from each school’s website. This estimate did not include whole cost-of-attendance factors such as housing or personal expenses. Student-Faculty and graduation ratios were obtained via the National Center for Education Statistics.
We sorted schools and assigned points accordingly across all three categories. The breakdown of points distribution is 40% tuition, 40% graduation rate, 20% student-faculty ratio. The maximum possible points was 100 points.
If you work for a school listed above and notice an error in our data, please contact us so we can make corrections as soon as possible.
