Best Online Music Degrees

Best Online Bachelor's in Music

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Pursue your passion and master your craft with one of the 5 Best Online Bachelor’s in Music!

Best Online Bachelor's in Music

Music is a universal language that can make others feel and experience what the artist is performing, but the process is much more complicated than simply expressing emotions. There are technical skills and theory that underlie the process of producing enjoyable music. With a bachelor’s in music, you’ll learn all about these theories and how to apply them to your own writing!  

Online Schools Report is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

What Is an Online Bachelor’s in Music? 

When pursuing an online bachelor’s in music you’ll be taught how to analyze, edit, and produce music. Whether you want to become someone that solo’s in concert halls, teaches at a school, or works with leading artists to create the next smash radio hit, there is a bachelor’s degree program out there that will fit your needs. 

While pursuing a bachelor’s in music, you’ll be exposed to a wide range of classes and musical experiences. Some examples of classes you may take during the course of earning your degree include music production analysis, audio fundamentals for producing, and music foundations, among others. 

How Much Can You Earn With an Online Bachelor’s in Music?

How much you can earn with a bachelor’s in music depends mainly on the career you decide to pursue after graduation. A popular career choice for those with this degree is a music composer and arranger, sometimes also referred to as music producers or songwriters. Music composers earn an annual income of just under $50,000 per year. 

Other jobs you may want to consider upon graduation is that of a music director or a sound engineering technician. Music directors can expect to take home just under $50,000 per year, while sound engineering technicians can expect a salary of $52,390.

What Is Required to Attend an Online Bachelor’s in Music? 

Every school may require different application materials, but music schools will likely ask for evidence that you graduated high school along with official transcripts for any university you attended in your past. 

Some music schools may require students to audition to get into the program, while others might want to see a portfolio of your musical career, schooling, and accomplishments. If you’re unable to complete these requirements, some of the schools will recommend that you first earn an associate degree in music before enrolling in the school’s bachelor’s program. 

What Are the Most Affordable Online Colleges?

OSR uses six data points: three school-wide and three program-specific. For school-wide, OSR uses student satisfaction, admission rates, and the number of programs the school offers online. For program-specific, OSR checks the median debt of graduates from that program, how many degrees are offered within that program’s umbrella department, and what percentage of students at that school graduated from that department.

The six statistics are displayed by each school. The sliding bar under each statistic represents how that school compares to other U.S. institutions. “Not reported” means a school did not release that information to the U.S. Department of Education. A more detailed description of the OSR process can be found on the methodology page.

Let’s take a look at the 5 Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s in Music! 

Academy of Art University

Academy of Art University

Quick Facts

  • 132 credit hour program
  • Eight-semester program
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

77%

Programs Offered Online

32

Median Debt

$32,755

Programs in Department

12

Popularity at School

72%

100%OSR Score

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Production from the Academy of Art University tops our list due to the impressive careers of its graduates. With this program, you’ll learn to work with music production software, all the while learning how to structure and create appealing sounds for a variety of industries. Students in this program can apply for internships to learn from successful professionals in the field.

Berklee College of Music

Quick Facts

  • 120 credit hour program
  • Ten-semester program
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

80%

Acceptance Rate

53%

Programs Offered Online

4

Median Debt

$23,773

Programs in Department

4

Popularity at School

95%

89%OSR Score

Berklee College of Music offers a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Music Production degree that will teach you the necessary skills to prepare you for a career as a music producer, recording engineer, and more! Students can complete 18 credit hours of specialization courses in the topics that interest them the most. Application to this program is quick and simple, with students completing an application that takes 15 minutes, submission of official transcripts, a short essay, and two letters of recommendation. 

The Baptist College of Florida

The Baptist College of Florida

Quick Facts

  • 120 credit hour program
  • Required piano proficiency for graduation
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

76%

Acceptance Rate

62%

Programs Offered Online

14

Programs in Department

1

Popularity at School

16%

69%OSR Score

If your dream is to compose and play music for ministries, then the Bachelor of Arts in Music from The Baptist College of Florida is just what you need to make your dreams a reality. The music major is composed of 54 credit hours of coursework, with classes in music theory, conducting, music history, applied music, and ensembles. All students in this program are required to take 12 credit hours in Biblical Foundations to graduate with their bachelor’s degree. 

Judson College

Quick Facts

  • 120 credit hour program
  • Majors and minors in music
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

75%

Acceptance Rate

51%

Programs Offered Online

18

Programs in Department

1

Popularity at School

7%

68%OSR Score

Judson College allows students to choose between a Bachelor of Art in Music and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. While the BS is focused on students who wish to teach after graduation, the BA is for those who desire to make it as performing musicians. In order to be admitted, both of these programs require students to audition in front of the school’s distinguished music education faculty.

University of Maine at Augusta

Quick Facts

  • 124 credit hour program
  • Eight-semester program
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

74%

Programs Offered Online

12

Programs in Department

1

Popularity at School

1%

66%OSR Score

The University of Maine at Augusta offers students an online Bachelor of Music in Contemporary & Popular Music that is perfect for the experienced musician. Those with little to no music experience will want to enroll in the school’s associate program, as admission to the bachelor’s program requires students to audition or submit a portfolio for review. Students can choose to further concentrate their studies in Electronic Dance Music, Symphony Orchestra, and other music styles. 

Online Schools Report is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.