A world without music is unimaginable. Music has been an integral part of everyone’s life since birth, hence we cannot imagine our lives without music. Be it for professing your emotions or calming yourselves down, music has been a part of our lives and will continue to be a part of your every mood. We all are aware of the therapeutic power of music, a good music can change the world, or help a person to recover from illness. Music can calm the body, soul, and mind with its therapeutic power, it can improve mental and physical health, and can even ease pains and worries.
Music therapists use different kinds of musical experiences, such as singing, playing instruments, writing songs, and listening to and talking about music, to meet clients’ needs using the unique relationship between the client, the music, and the therapist. A career in Music Therapy can be very intriguing, becoming a Music Therapist is something new and different from the mainstream professions, and by becoming one, you get to change or influence people’s lives with the help of music.
If you’re looking for the best colleges offering courses in Music Therapy, then here are top- 10 colleges in the USA for you:
Berklee College of Music
The number 1 on our list is the best music college in U.S- Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts. If music is your soul and you are willing to pursue a degree in Music Therapy, then there is no other place in the world better for you than Berklee. The Introduction to Music Therapy program Berklee is offered in an online mode, the lessons are provided by top-class professionals who were once students of Berklee and have contributed to the success the college has received through world- recognition. The courses here focus on the therapeutic power of music, and how music affects your mind, body, and soul, and you will practice evidence-based musical activities and exercises that will enhance your general well-being and wellness. If you want to improve your and other’s lives through the therapeutic power of music, then there is no better place for you than Berklee College of Music to pursue your career as a Music Therapist. The admissions conducted here are audition-based.
Founded In:1945
Rank: 1
Tuition: $1,497
Acceptance Rate: 51%
Contact: +1 617-266-1400
Financial Aid: Click here for detailed information
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New York University
Another extremely popular choice to pursue your career in Music Therapy is the New York University. NYU Steinhardt offers top-class professional training in music therapy, NYU Steinhardt’s Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions was established in the year 1925, and in 1968, the Department merged with the prestigious New York College of Music. Since then, Steinhardt Music and Performing Arts has been functioning as NYU’s School of Music and provides opportunities for major research, and also serves as a practice center that offers various courses to learn such as music therapy, music technology, music business, music composition, film scoring, music performance practices, and other performing arts therapies. The music school now stands strong with 1,600 students pursuing their degrees in music and performing arts programs, and are guided by world-class 400 faculties. You can pursue a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree in Music Therapy from NYU Steinhardt and make your dream come true.
Founded In: 1831
Rank: 2
Tuition: $53,308
Acceptance Rate: 16%
Contact: 212.992.4723
Financial Aid: Click here for detailed information
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Florida State University
The College of Music at Florida State University is situated in Tallahassee, Florida. The university offers a comprehensive program in music to help aspiring musicians land up as professionals. The areas in which you can gain a specialization are Music Performance (classical, jazz, and music theatre), Music Education, Music Therapy, Music Theory, Music Composition, Arts Administration, Piano Technology, Commercial Music, Historical Musicology, and Ethnomusicology. The recent faculty accomplishments of the college include Grammy Awards, Pulitzer Prizes, and Guggenheim fellowships, as well as frequent performances by experts in the United States and around the world. The Music Therapy studies at FSU include music therapy, and related coursework, and also clinical training which is an integral part of the program.
Founded In:1851
Rank: 3
Tuition: $5,656 (in-state)
Acceptance Rate: 36%
Contact: 850.644.6200
Financial Aid: Undergraduate and graduate scholarships
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University of Georgia
The Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia is another best option for pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy. The program prepares the student for a career in the therapeutic practice of music so that they can restore, maintain, or improve mental and physical health. The program also strongly emphasizes areas of human psychology and social sciences and provides multiple opportunities to become involved in the profession through observation and participation in clinical experiences.
After completion of the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Therapy and certification examination, you can acquire a license as a Board Certified Music Therapist. This degree by the University of Georgia is accredited by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
Founded In: 1785
Rank: 4
Tuition: $23,145 (approx.)
Acceptance Rate: 45.3%
Contact: 7065423737
Financial Aid: Undergraduate Music Scholarships
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Appalachian State University
The Hayes School of Music is a prestigious music school of Appalachian State University and provides an opportunity for students to pursue a Bachelor’s or Mater’s degree in Music Therapy. The courses are aimed to develop expertise among students so that they can use music therapeutically and help others improve their mental and physical health, and also spiritual needs. These courses also focus on clinical training that can help you become a board-certified Music Therapist.
Founded In:1899
Rank: 5
Tuition: $7,409 approx
Acceptance Rate: 76.8%
Contact: 828-262-3020
Financial Aid: Hayes Young Artists Scholarship Program
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Marywood University
The Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy from Marywood University can lead you to achieve board certification as a music therapist. The program is designed to develop therapeutic skills among the students with the help of music of course and includes more than 1200 hours of clinical training essential to become a professional. The music therapy clinic or lab has every piece of equipment required to provide top-class training and successfully complete the program. The University also provides various scholarship programs that can help you economically.
Founded In: 1915
Rank: 6
Tuition: N/A
Acceptance Rate: 77.8%
Contact: 570-348-6211
Financial Aid: Click here for detailed information
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Montclair University
The John Cali School of Music of Montclair University is a very prestigious and renowned school of music and another best place for you to get your degree in Music Therapy. You can pursue both your Bachelor’s and Master’s degree which are approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and become a certified Music Therapist. The music therapy program in J. Cali School is very organized and features closely supervised clinical work, to mold you into a professional.
Founded In: 1908
Rank: 7
Tuition: N/A
Acceptance Rate: 76.3%
Contact: 9736554000
Financial Aid: Click here for detailed information
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University of Arizona
School of Music, Dance, and Theatre is a prestigious part of the University of Arizona that offers various courses and helps students to achieve their dream as successful musicians, dancers, and actors. ASU can be the ideal university for you to opt for a degree in Music Therapy. The music therapy degrees put a major emphasis on both musical and therapeutic skill areas, while also aiming to enhance the overall understanding of the profession of music therapy.
The location of ASU serves a major role in providing clinical practice to its students, as it is located in a large metropolitan area, there are opportunities for students to perform clinical practice in nationally recognized facilities such as the Barrow Neurological Center, Mohammed Ali Parkinson’s Center, Hospice of the Valley, and Banner Medical Centers. You won’t find better opportunities elsewhere.
Founded In: 1885
Rank: 8
Tuition: $12,691
Acceptance Rate: 84.6%
Contact: 520.621.1655
Financial Aid: Click here for detailed information
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Immaculata University
All the music therapy degrees offered by the renowned Immaculata University are approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). You get a chance to study for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Music Therapy with the best, organized classes and clinical practice. During the course of your degree, you would learn how music therapists use different kinds of instruments, and other musical experiences such as singing, writing songs, etc. to develop a healthy mindset among children and adults. The course will develop the core musicianship within you, and will enhance your clinical skills, and also your understanding of the psychology of music and psychopathology. Immaculata University can be your ideal destination to become a successful Music Therapist.
Founded In: 1920
Rank: 9
Tuition: $26,900
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Contact: 1-610-647-4400
Financial Aid: Immaculata Financial Aid
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Temple University
The last one on our list is the popular Temple University that also offers degrees in Music Therapy at its Boyer College of Music and Dance. The University’s Music Therapy programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and also approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). The degrees focus on introducing the students to the environment of therapeutic music and conduct a clinical practice based on that. The students here learn to relate music with psychology, along with understanding the importance of musicianship, self-understanding, and interpersonal skills. Boyer College of Music and Dance can make your dreams come true by providing the right guidance that will help you establish yourself as a professional Music Therapist.
Founded In:1884
Rank: 10
Tuition: N/A
Acceptance Rate: 60%
Contact: 215-204-8310
Financial Aid: Temple University Music Scholarships
