California is one of the main economic hubs in the USA and a regional destination for the media, arts, and education and technology sectors. It has many conservatories and approved colleges with rigorous music programs. Studying Music in California would encourage you to concentrate on a wide variety of musical genres along with theoretical and practical modules.
Discover everything you need to know about studying Music as an International student in California by finding the right institution. We’ve put together a list of the best music colleges in California to help you find the best music college.
Good luck!
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University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private research university. It offers 134 masters, doctoral, and professional degrees through 17 vocational schools. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. It also provides merit and need-based scholarships for students from all over the world. It was ranked 22nd in U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 annual ranking of national universities.
Ranking: #22 in National Universities
Tuition & Fees Approximately: 56,225 USD
Finance and Admission Office Contact: (213) 740-8986 or uscmusic@usc.edu
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California State University, Northridge
Founded in 1958, California State University is one of the nation’s largest public universities in the state of California. It offers 134 different bachelor’s degrees and master’s degree programs in 70 different fields. It is recognized for its commitment to the educational and professional goals of the students. The university has been consistently recognized as having one of the best film schools as well as music schools in the U.S. and the world.
Ranking: #19 in nations public colleges.
Tuition & Fees Approximately: $5,700
Finance and Admission Office Contact: (818) 677-3184or music@csun.edu
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Chapman University
Chapman University is a private institution based in Orange, California. It has 110 study areas (49 majors and 61 minors) and ten schools and concentrations on campus. It has campuses throughout California and Washington, and campus online. The university offers more than 80 degree, certificate, credential and professional programs. It was listed as 5th among masters-level universities in the Western region.
Ranking: #125 in America
Tuition & Fees Approximately: $28,415
Finance and Admission Office Contact: (714) 997-6711 or intladmit@chapman.edu
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Biola University
Biola University is a private, evangelical Christian university. It offers forty-seven undergraduate majors, eighty concentrations, and more than one hundred fifty professional fields of study. It has over 65 student organizations and clubs. It has four university centres. It provides a wide variety of career opportunities, such as musicology, recording, education, music therapy or music industry.
Ranking: #185 in National Universities
Tuition & Fees Approximately: $592 per credit
Finance and Admission Office Contact: (562) 903-4742 or financialaid@biola.edu
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California State University- Long beach
California State University was founded in 1857 at Long Beach, California. The Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at CSULB is the best university-based music education at the most affordable price. It offers an exuberant, committed faculty on campus to help you become an outstanding, well-rounded, professionally-prepared guitarist and scholar. It provides high-quality, learning-focused and results-based education driven by a world-renowned faculty.
Ranking: #501 -#600 in US Rankings
Tuition & Fees Approximately: $5,742
Finance and Admission Office Contact: 8779590198
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Los Angeles College of Music
Los Angeles College of Music is a for-profit music school in Pasadena. It offers Bachelor’s degrees in music performance (drums, guitar, bass or voice) and music production, music composition and music industry. It has been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. It runs one-week summer music courses for children aged ten or over, with workshops, lessons, clinics and concerts.
Ranking: Unranked
Tuition & Fees Approximately: $32,600
Finance and Admission Office Contact: 626-568-8850 or admissions@lacm.edu
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Musician Institute
Built-in the heart of Hollywood in 1977, the Musicians Institute (MI) is a College of Contemporary Music based on the idea that musicians can teach and learn from other musicians in a creative and supportive environment. It provides extensive education in all areas of the music industry, including instrumental performance, DJ & production skills, video game composition, audio engineering, guitar construction, music business, and music technology training.
Ranking: #501 -#600 in US Rankings
Tuition & Fees Approximately: $80,820
Finance and Admission Office Contact: 323-462-1384 or admissions@mi.edu
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San Francisco Conservatory of Music
The San Francisco Conservatory of Music is a private school of Music in San Francisco, California. It focuses on the education of the whole person, with an interconnected curriculum that breaks down barriers between the intellectual, artistic, professional and individual. The college has lectures, music theory, arts, and science. It focuses on education with an integrated curriculum that breaks down barriers between academic, creative and technical knowledge.
Ranking: Unranked
Tuition & Fees Approximately: 43,410 USD
Finance and Admission Office Contact: +1 415-864-7326
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California Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) was established in 1961 in Santa Clarita, California. CalArts offers more than 70 comprehensive degree programs in the visual, performing, media and literary arts. CalArts Herb Alpert School of Music offers various degree programs in composition, jazz, music technology and several performance programs and also provide training in an unusual variety of musical styles and cultures.
Ranking: Unranked
Tuition & Fees Approximately: $52,850
Finance and Admission Office Contact: +1-800-545-2787 or admissions@calarts.edu
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Colburn School
The Colburn School is a performing arts school. It consists of four divisions: the Conservatory of Music, the Music Academy, Community School of Performing Arts, and Dance Academy. It offers its students more than 300 performance opportunities every year, many of which are free to the public. It provides many scholarship opportunities for international students.
Ranking: Un-ranked
Tuition & Fees Approximately: $15,000
Finance and Admission Office Contact: +-1-8779590198
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