Here is a collection of the best music producer schools and music producer colleges to get an education in music production. Learn how to produce music by professionals.
Going to school for music production can accelerate your music learning experience and give you hands-on training to learn everything involved with creating music.
I have included videos and the average cost for each school.
Suggested Guide: How to Become a Music Producer
The Best Music Producer Schools
- Full Sail University
- Point Blank Music School
- Berklee College of Music
- SAE Institute
- Musicians Institute
- NYU Steinhardt
- USC Thornton School of Music
- Frost School of Music
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Belmont University’s School of Music
- Middle Tennessee State University
- Drexel University
- UMass Lowell
- American University
- Cuyahoga Community College
1. Full Sail University
Full Sail University is a private, nonprofit college dedicated to helping students launch careers in media and entertainment.
Full Sail University is one of the largest private universities in the United States, offering more than 70 undergraduate and graduate programs ranging from game design to business, animation to nursing, and music production to management.
Full Sail University is an entertainment and digital media university located in Winter Park, Florida. Full Sail has been named one of the Top 5 Best Value Colleges by The Princeton Review for excellence in quality education at a great price.
Location: Winter Park, Florida
Average annual cost: Before aid $40,363 / After aid $25,440
Available Degrees
- Audio Production
- Music Business
- Music Production Program
- Recording Arts
- Show Production
- Professional Writing
- Audio Post-production
- Music Copyright & Publishing
- Artist Management
2. Point Blank Music School
Point Blank Music School is a music school based in London. They aim to give aspiring musicians the best education through digitally-led teaching methods, practical workshops, and motivational learning experiences.
Point Blank Music School offers online courses and workshops for beginner to advanced musicians, producers, and engineers.
They provide the best music education online to students from over 60 countries. Top industry professionals developed the curriculum, and they care about your success and offer individual support and feedback to learn faster and get better results!
Location: Los Angeles, London, China, Ibiza, Mumbai
Available Courses:
- Music Production Program
- How to DJ
- Music Industry
- Singing & Songwriting
- Sound Design
- Mixing & Mastering
- Composing For TV & Film
3. Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music is a world-renowned institution dedicated to fostering music’s art, science, and business.
Home to more than 3,500 students, Berklee offers associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in its approach to music education.
Berklee College of Music is a premier global institution for music education and research. Since its founding in 1945, Berklee has been a pioneer in innovative programs that combine the study of music with other disciplines such as business, technology, and the visual arts.
The faculty has included some of the most respected names in American popular music, from Duke Ellington to Dr. Dre. The alumni have kept a proud tradition of musical excellence alive for more than 70 years.
Location: Multiple Locations
Average annual cost: Before aid $66,944 / After aid $48,425
Music Production Degree Programs:
- Music Production
- Music Business
- Guitar
- Songwriting
- Songwriting and Producing Music
- Music Composition for Film, TV, and Games
- Interdisciplinary Music Studies (Create Your Own Major)
- Electronic Music Production and Sound Design
4. SAE Institute
The SAE Institute was established in 1972 as a nonprofit organization to foster education and research in the broad field of communications.
SAE Institute is the world’s leading producer of post-secondary education programs in music, audio engineering, entertainment & media entrepreneurship.
Over 70 campuses worldwide, including Australia, Canada, China, India, Mexico, and Spain. SAE Institute is the world’s leading post-secondary education provider of music, film, and media programs, with a network of 40+ campuses in 20 countries.
Its mission is to shape the future of entertainment and creative industries by providing an educational experience that prepares its students for careers in music.
Location: Multiple Locations in the United States
Average Cost: $23,799.00
Programs
- Music Production
- Audio Engineering
- Studio Production
- Live Sound
- Acoustics
- Post Production
- Artist Development
5. Musicians Institute
If you are looking to become a professional musician, the Musicians Institute is the right place for you.
More than 40 years of experience make it one of the leaders in music education, and the Musicians Institute offers the most comprehensive music education programs in the world. Whether you’re just starting out or already a seasoned performer, MI has something for you.
It is the only school that provides training for every aspect of your music career as an artist – recording, performance, production, business, and entrepreneurship – with individualized attention at every level.
Location: Los Angeles, California
Average annual cost: Before aid $47,088 / After aid $35,997
Available Programs:
- Audio Engineering
- Electronic Music Production
- Artist / Producer / Entrepreneur
- Music Composition
- Live Music Event Production
- Independent Artist Program
- Studio Recording
6. NYU Steinhardt
NYU Steinhardt is a global leader in performing arts education, research, and professional performance. It offers top-quality programs to students from the United States and around the country.
Students gain meaningful, real-world experience through internships, collaborations with leading professionals in theatre, film, television, music, opera, arts administration, and management. Steinhardt is a fully accredited, private university with a global reach—and a firmly local heart.
Generous financial aid packages ensure that master’s and doctoral students in New York City can attend, as well as music creators from all around the world.
Location: New York City, New York
Average undergraduate tuition: $41,606
Programs
- Music Technology
- Songwriting
- Music Business
- Music Minor
- Brass Studies
- Concert Composition
- Jazz Studies
- Music Education
- Music Therapy
- Percussion Studies
- Performing Arts Administration
- Piano Studies
- Screen Scoring
- Vocal Performance
- String Studies
- BM MM Adv Cert PhD
7. USC Thornton School of Music
USC Thornton School of Music is an internationally renowned school located in the heart of Los Angeles. It is one of the top-ranked music production schools globally, with a history that began in 1919.
The USC Thornton School of Music is an international leader in music performance, scholarship, and pedagogy. They train artists to be leaders in their field, critically engaged scholars, and passionate contributors to society.
The USC Thornton School of Music offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees for talented and aspiring musicians who seek to pursue careers as performing artists, composers, or scholars.
Location: Los Angeles, California
Average undergraduate tuition and fees: 42,162
Programs
- Music Technology
- Music Production
- Minor in Music Production
- Minor in Music Recording
- Music Teaching & Learning
- Composition
- Screen Scoring
- Studio Guitar
8. Frost School of Music
Frost School of Music is dedicated to educating, nurturing, and inspiring the next generation of great musicians. They are about producing well-rounded musicians who can go out into the world and make a difference.
Frost School of Music is the largest independent music school in the United States, with New York City, Miami, and Austin locations.
They offer programs for young people, adults, and professionals (both amateur and professional), including lessons, workshops, private instruction, summer camps, master classes, improvisation classes, and more.
Frost School of Music is a music production school that offers private and group lessons at affordable prices. They also offer summer and winter programs for students to enhance their musical skills further.
Location: Coral Gables, Florida
Average Cost: $47,040 per academic year.
Programs
- Music Industry
- Music Engineering
- Instrumental Performance
- Keyboard Performance
- Music Education
- Theory & Composition
- Modern Artist Development & Entrepreneurship
- Conducting
- Music Production Program
9. Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university based in Pittsburgh, PA, and it is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report.
Chartered in 1900 by members of the region’s leading industrialists and financiers, Carnegie Mellon pioneered multidisciplinary education with a strong emphasis on innovation, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship.
The school has been home to three Nobel laureates, eight Turing Award winners, and 10 National Medal of Technology winners.
Location: Los Angeles, California
Average Cost: $57,560
Programs
- Electronic Music
- Piano Performance
- Music Education
- Music & Technology
- Composition
- Advanced Music Studies
- Instrumental Performance
- Vocal Performance
10. Belmont University’s School of Music
Founded in 1920, Belmont University’s School of Music is one of the oldest and largest private conservatories in the United States.
They offer a comprehensive concert and performance schedule for different music enthusiasts and players of all ages.
The National Association of Schools of Music has been recognized as an accredited institutional member, which helps them provide students with modern academic facilities and supports them through various scholarships.
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Average annual cost: Before aid $54,595 / After aid $35,861
Programs
- Music Technology
- Music Composition
- Music Teaching
- Church Music
- Commercial Music
- Minor in Music
- Music Education
- Music Performance
- Musical Theatre
- Music Therapy
- Music with Outside Minor
11. Middle Tennessee State University
For more than a century, Middle Tennessee State University has been serving as a critical contributor to its region’s education, health, and well-being, and beyond.
Known as MTSU or MT, the university is home to 12 colleges and schools providing outstanding academic opportunities in undergraduate and graduate studies in more than 200 fields of study, leading to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
The main campus of Middle Tennessee State University is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It’s a sizeable 4-year institution with a relatively small student-to-faculty ratio and an average graduation rate.
Location: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Average annual in-state cost: Before aid $23,518 / After aid $12,712
Programs
- Music Industry
- Music, B.A.
- Music, Composition (Theory-Composition)
- Music, Instrumental Music Education
- Music, Instrumental Performance
- Music, Vocal/General Education
- Music, Voice Performance
12. Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with campuses in Philadelphia, the United States, and Prague. The main campus is located on Chestnut Street between 32nd and 34th Streets in Center City, Philadelphia.
Drexel has three satellite campuses: Drexel University Sacramento, located in Sacramento; Drexel University Arizona, which includes the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine; and the Drexel University Macquarie Graduate School of Management in Sydney, Australia.
Drexel University is a private research university focusing on experiential, interdisciplinary education in business, engineering, fine arts and design, healthcare management, hospitality management, and public policy.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Average annual cost: Before aid $71,657 / After aid $33,631
Programs
- Music Industry BS / Business MBA
- Music Theory and Composition
- Music Therapy and Counseling
- Music Performance
- Performing Arts
13. UMass Lowell
UMass Lowell is a public research university in Lowell, Massachusetts. The university offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in business, education, engineering, and the sciences.
UMass Lowell delivers high-quality educational programs, active, hands-on learning, and personal attention from leading faculty members.
While preparing students to become skilled, engaged leaders ready to help shape a better future for our changing world.
The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a nationally recognized, research-intensive institution.
A comprehensive university with a reputation for academic excellence, UMass Lowell delivers high-quality programs and provides students with an education that prepares them to succeed in today’s economy.
Location: Lowell, Massachusetts
Average annual in-state cost: Before aid $31,332 / After aid $18,882
Programs
- Music Business
- Sound Recording Technology
- Music Performance
- Music Studies (Education)
- Composition For New Media
14. American University
American University is a private, nonprofit institution located in Washington, D.C. The university was founded in 1893 by an Act of Congress following the death of General William Thayer Mahan, who left the majority of his estate to establish a school dedicated to “the cause of national defense.”
Today, AU offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through its eight schools and colleges.
AU aims to be one of the foremost national universities in the United States with programs relevant to society’s needs and desires today while preserving its deep roots in American higher education.
Location: Washington, DC
Average annual cost: Before aid $67,694 / After aid $34,617
Programs
- Audio Production
- Audio Technology
- Business and Entertainment
- Music
15. Cuyahoga Community College
Cuyahoga Community College is a two-year public institution in the Cleveland metropolitan area.
The college offers associate degrees and certificates and professional development programs to prepare students for careers.
With eight campuses throughout Northeast Ohio, Cuyahoga Community College serves over 28,000 full-time and part-time students each year.
Cuyahoga Community College is one of the largest institutions of higher education in Ohio. With more than 19,000 students, it is also one of the most diverse two-year colleges in the nation.
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Average annual in-state cost: Before aid $13,862 / After aid $5,144
Programs
- Music Business
- Music Reading Skills
- Songwriting
- Studio Maintenance
- MIDI Technology
- Introduction to Music Theory
- Basic Ear Training
- Applied Piano Minor
- Orchestra
Can You Go To College To Be A Music Producer?
Yes, you can go to college to be a music producer. Many music production schools, such as Full Sail University and Berklee College of Music, offer degrees and career training as music producers. You can also take college courses online or at a community college to learn music production.
Choosing an excellent music production school is a pivotal step in becoming a successful music producer.
Top music production schools provide not only advanced audio production skills but also teach the history of music, promoting a better understanding of the creative process involved.
These schools provide a holistic music production education, covering everything from traditional recording studio techniques to digital music production using advanced digital audio workstations like Pro Tools.
When selecting a music school, students should look for programs that emphasize practical, hands-on experience.
This could mean providing access to professional recording studios, offering live recording and audio mastering classes, or facilitating multimedia production.
Thus, programs that offer online music production courses covering these areas would be great choices.
Furthermore, it’s crucial to examine the school’s focus on the technical aspects of music production and how well it integrates with the business side.
In this ever-evolving music industry, having skills in music marketing is as important as knowing how to produce music.
A school that educates on both fronts can be highly beneficial for aspiring audio engineers and music producers.
The top music production schools do not merely teach you how to produce music.
They mold you into a well-rounded music production professional. Whether you’re studying music production in a physical classroom or through online classes, these schools will equip you with the skills needed for producing music in a variety of settings—from recording studios to the digital sphere.
Deciding to study music production at one of the top music production schools can be a game-changing move for your career.
The blend of technical knowledge, practical experience, and industry insight you gain could open doors to a wide array of opportunities in music production and audio.
Remember, while the journey to becoming a successful music producer requires time and effort, with the right education and passion, your dreams of making waves in the music industry can become a reality.
I hope you found this list of music producer schools helpful.
Did we miss any schools? Did you go to school for music production? Share your experience in the comments.
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