Music Schools
Best Music Schools In Colorado | Cost, Requirements, & How To Apply
Today, there are many options to decide which Colorado music school is right for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person visits, you can attend one of the many reputable online schools.
Some music schools in Colorado even offer a hybrid experience. In addition, you can choose a vocational school that prepares you for work with knowledge in a certain field.
To help you see some of the study options available to you, we’ve researched the best music schools in Colorado.
Are There Music Schools In Colorado?
There are several music schools in Colorado that offer music production as a music course, including:
- Colorado Institute of Music
- Colorado State University School of Music, Theater and Dance
- University of Colorado Boulder College of Music
- University of Colorado Boulder
- University of Northern Colorado
- MSU Denver
- University of Colorado Mesa
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How Much Do Music Schools Cost In Colorado?
The University of Colorado Boulder has 105 students majoring in Music. Tuition is $11,091, while Colorado State University-Pueblo, located in Pueblo, Colorado, has 24 students majoring in Music with a tuition fee of $8,282.
Some prospective students prefer to pursue their education at a state or public university. It’s that simple! And to be honest, the reason is simple: to gain a deeper understanding of the field of music production. However, studying at music universities instead of vocational schools will cost much more.
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What Are The Requirements For Music Schools In Colorado?
Before entering a music school in Colorado, an applicant must meet the following requirements:
- Minimum Texas GPA of 2.00
- Minimum major GPA of 2.25 (students majoring in music must have a 2.85 for Texas State music major)
- Minimum minor GPA (if applicable) of 2.00
- A minimum grade of C or better or CR in each music course required for the major or minor
- Minimum hours 120 hours (Diploma in Music Studies requires more than 120 hours to fulfill course requirements through College of Education teacher certification courses)
- Additional hours (level 3000 and 4000) 36 hours
- Proficiency in a foreign language Completion of at least 2 years of study in one language at high school or university level
- Computer Literacy Completion of at least 1 year of computer coursework at the high school or university level
Admission requirements for graduate school usually include a bachelor’s degree in music or music history, such as a bachelor of arts in music or a bachelor of music.
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What Are The Best Music Schools In Colorado?
University of Northern Colorado
The University of Northern Colorado is a large public university located in the medium-sized city of Greeley. A top college ranking of 679 out of 2,241 schools nationwide means that the University of Northern Colorado is an overall great university.
In the most recent year for which we have data, there were approximately 64 student musicians who graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with this degree.
Graduates of music degree programs earn an average of $27,171 at the start of their careers.
Colorado State University – Pueblo
Colorado State University – Pueblo is a medium-sized public university located in the medium-sized city of Pueblo. This university ranks 31st out of 34 colleges for overall quality in the state of Colorado.
Approximately 16 student musicians graduated from Colorado State University at Pueblo in the last year for which we have data.
Colorado Mesa University
Located in Grand Junction, Colorado Mesa State University has an average student population. This university ranks 28th out of 34 colleges for overall quality in the state of Colorado.
There were approximately 7 student musicians who completed this degree at Colorado Mesa in the most recent year for which we have data.
University of Denver
The University of Denver is a good choice for students pursuing a degree in music. Located in the great city of Denver, DU is a private, non-profit university with a fairly large student population.
A top college ranking of 144 out of 2,241 colleges across the country means that DU is an overall great university.
In the most recent year for which we have data, there were approximately 69 student musicians who graduated from DU with this degree. Shortly after graduation, music degree recipients typically earn about $24,034 in the first five years of their career.
University of Colorado Boulder
It’s hard to beat the University of Colorado at Boulder if you want a degree in music. CU – Boulder is a very large public university located in the medium-sized city of Boulder.
A top college ranking of 108 out of 2,241 schools nationwide means that CU – Boulder is an overall great university. In the most recent year for which we have data, there were approximately 124 student musicians who completed this degree at CU – Boulder.
Music degree holders from the University of Colorado at Boulder receive an earnings boost of approximately $4,605 above the average earnings of music graduates.
Colorado State University – Fort Collins
Colorado State University at Fort Collins is a great choice for students majoring in music. This is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Fort Collins.
A top college ranking of 151 out of 2,241 schools nationwide means that Colorado State University is a great university.
Colorado State had approximately 90 music students graduate with this degree in the last year, according to the data.
Recipients of a music degree at Colorado State University in Fort Collins earn $6,746 more than the average college graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.
University of Colorado Denver
The University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus is one of the best schools in the United States for a music degree.
Located in the great city of Denver, CU Anschutz is a public university with a fairly large student population. A top college ranking of 511 out of 2,241 colleges nationwide means that CU Anschutz is an overall great university.
About 117 student musicians graduated from CU Anschutz in the last year, according to the data. Students who graduate from a music program report an average early career salary of $24,558.
Metropolitan State University of Denver
MSU Denver is a large public university located in the great city of Denver. This university ranks 23rd out of 34 colleges for overall quality in the state of Colorado.
In the most recent year for which we have data, there were approximately 30 student musicians who completed this degree at MSU Denver. Students who complete a degree in a music program earn about $18,734 in the first couple of years of their career.
University of Western Colorado
Western is a small public university located in the remote town of Gunnison. This university ranks 30th out of 34 colleges for overall quality in the state of Colorado.
There were approximately 3 student musicians who graduated with this degree from Western during the most recent year of data.
Arapahoe Community College
Located in suburban Littleton, Arapahoe Community College has a large student population. This college ranks 21st out of 34 colleges for overall quality in the state of Colorado.
Approximately 3 student musicians have graduated from Arapahoe Community College in the past year with this degree.
How Much Do Musicologists In Colorado Earn?
As a graduate of a musicology program, you can apply for a position as a music teacher at a college or university. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in May 2012, the median annual salary for a high school art, drama, and music teacher was $62,160.
The BLS also noted that post-secondary teacher employment is expected to grow faster than average between 2012 and 2022 compared to other occupations.
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How Do I Become A Musicologist In Colorado?
The first step for those who want to become a musicologist in Colorado is a bachelor’s degree in music. Some schools offer musicology, music history, music theory, and related degrees.
This degree lays the foundation for graduate studies. Undergraduate students should plan to study musical instruments and may want to pursue internships and research opportunities that they can apply to graduate school.
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What Are The Best Paying Music Jobs in Colorado?
Musicologists in Colorado also work in libraries, performing arts organizations, television and film companies, independent authors, museums, archives, and K-12 educational institutions.
They also write articles for journals such as the Journal of the American Musicological Society and The Musical Quarterly; many are also authors of published books. Respected musicologists also frequently host workshops, create podcasts, and are featured speakers.
Some also find opportunities to work with companies that produce sound recognition software and music applications; you can also find consulting work for music publishing and licensing companies as a forensic musicologist.
Music teachers can be adjunct, part-time, full-time, or full-time, so salary figures vary widely. ZipRecruiter reports that the pay range is $12,000 to $144,000 with an average pay of $58,728 per year or $28 per hour.
To give you an idea of how much a musicologist can make hosting a podcast, the creators of WNYC Studios show that these hosts are paid between $55,000 and $80,000, which is $30-$44 per hour.
A forensic musicologist who uses his musical expertise to analyze possible copyright infringement can also earn this much.
Music Schools In Colorado FAQs
A Bachelor of Music degree in Colorado typically takes four years of full-time study. Many institutions require freshmen to live in on-campus residence halls, which may be more or less expensive than other housing or commuting options.
You will most likely need a college degree if you want to work in musicology. While a master’s degree in music or musicology may be sufficient to work as a music composer or lecturer at a local college, many research and teaching positions require a doctoral degree.
Master’s programs typically take two years to complete and can lead to a Master of Arts or Master of Music in Musicology. Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs in general or historical musicology, music, or music education may require an additional 3-4 years of study. As an aspiring graduate student, you can also find programs in ethnomusicology and music theory.
Conclusion
In addition to a degree from one of Colorado’s top music schools, you’ll need a deep love of music and an open mind to succeed in this field. Musicology leaves little room for ideas like “country is the only kind of music worth listening to.”
Cultural Studies is just as important to musicology as the study of music theory, and this deeper understanding of where music comes from often leads to a broad appreciation of all types of musical traditions.
References
collegefactual.com – 2023 Best Music Schools in Colorado
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