Best Instrumental Performance Programs in the Northeast (2026)

1

Boston Conservatory at Berklee

Boston, MA·Private

Tuition: $58KAvg GPA: 3.47 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —

Bass Trombone, Euphonium +4 more

Cello, Double Bass +2 more

Bassoon, Clarinet +3 more

Tuition: $58KGPA: 3.47 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —

Bass Trombone, Euphonium +4 more

Cello, Double Bass +2 more

Bassoon, Clarinet +3 more

2

West Chester University

West Chester, PA·Public

School Admit Rate: 78%Tuition: $23KAvg GPA: 3.4 (W)

Bass, Bassoon +15 more

School Admit Rate: 78%Tuition: $23KGPA: 3.4 (W)

Bass, Bassoon +15 more

3

Seton Hill University

Greensburg, PA·Private

School Admit Rate: 80%Tuition: $46KAvg GPA: 3.78 (W)

Brass & Woodwind, Guitar +5 more

Brass & Woodwind, Guitar +3 more

Brass & Woodwind, Guitar +5 more

Brass & Woodwind, Guitar +3 more

Organ, Piano

Piano

School Admit Rate: 80%Tuition: $46KGPA: 3.78 (W)

Brass & Woodwind, Guitar +5 more

Brass & Woodwind, Guitar +3 more

Brass & Woodwind, Guitar +5 more

Brass & Woodwind, Guitar +3 more

Organ, Piano

Piano

4

Slippery Rock University

Slippery Rock, PA·Public

School Admit Rate: 71%Tuition: $19KAvg GPA: 3.58 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —

Percussion, Piano +1 more

School Admit Rate: 71%Tuition: $19KGPA: 3.58 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —

Percussion, Piano +1 more

5

CUNY Queens College

Queens, NY·Public

School Admit Rate: 64%Tuition: $15KAvg GPA: 3.34 (W)

Bassoon, Cello +14 more

Bassoon, Cello +16 more

School Admit Rate: 64%Tuition: $15KGPA: 3.34 (W)

Bassoon, Cello +14 more

Bassoon, Cello +16 more

6

Duquesne University

Pittsburgh, PA·Private

School Admit Rate: 84%Tuition: $53KAvg GPA: 3.79 (W)

Brass, Guitar and Bass Guitar +4 more

Brass, Classical Guitar +5 more

School Admit Rate: 84%Tuition: $53KGPA: 3.79 (W)

Brass, Guitar and Bass Guitar +4 more

Brass, Classical Guitar +5 more

7

Keene State College

Keene, NH·Public

School Admit Rate: 90%Tuition: $28KAvg GPA: 3.17 (W)

Guitar, Percussion +3 more

School Admit Rate: 90%Tuition: $28KGPA: 3.17 (W)

Guitar, Percussion +3 more

8

Mercyhurst University

Erie, PA·Private

School Admit Rate: 81%Tuition: $49KAvg GPA: 3.55 (W)

Brass, Guitar +4 more

School Admit Rate: 81%Tuition: $49KGPA: 3.55 (W)

Brass, Guitar +4 more

9

Rider University

Lawrenceville, NJ·Private

School Admit Rate: 79%Tuition: $45KAvg GPA: 3.49 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —

Organ, Piano

School Admit Rate: 79%Tuition: $45KGPA: 3.49 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —

Organ, Piano

10

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Indiana, PA·Public

School Admit Rate: 91%Tuition: $16KAvg GPA: 3.5 (W)

Brass, Keyboard +3 more

School Admit Rate: 91%Tuition: $16KGPA: 3.5 (W)

Brass, Keyboard +3 more

11

Bard College

Annandale-On-Hudson, NY·Private

School Admit Rate: 52%Tuition: $72KAvg GPA: 3.86 (W)

Classical Instrumental Performance

Brass, Harp +4 more

School Admit Rate: 52%Tuition: $72KGPA: 3.86 (W)

Classical Instrumental Performance

Brass, Harp +4 more

12

Berklee College of Music

Boston, MA·Private

School Admit Rate: 44%Tuition: $56KAvg GPA: 3 (W)

Bass, Brass +5 more

School Admit Rate: 44%Tuition: $56KGPA: 3 (W)

Bass, Brass +5 more

13

Gordon College

Wenham, MA·Private

School Admit Rate: 69%Tuition: $36KAvg GPA: 3.76 (W)

Instrumental Performance

School Admit Rate: 69%Tuition: $36KGPA: 3.76 (W)

Instrumental Performance

14

Marywood University

Scranton, PA·Private

School Admit Rate: 61%Tuition: $45KAvg GPA: 3.56 (W)

Instrumental Performance

School Admit Rate: 61%Tuition: $45KGPA: 3.56 (W)

Instrumental Performance

15

Rowan University

Glassboro, NJ·Public

School Admit Rate: 78%Tuition: $30KAvg GPA: 3.48 (W)

Keyboard

School Admit Rate: 78%Tuition: $30KGPA: 3.48 (W)

Keyboard

16

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY·Public

School Admit Rate: 74%Tuition: $32KAvg GPA: 3.7 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —

Cello, Double Bass +8 more

School Admit Rate: 74%Tuition: $32KGPA: 3.7 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —

Cello, Double Bass +8 more

17

University of Maine

Orono, ME·Public

School Admit Rate: 97%Tuition: $39KAvg GPA: 3.49 (W)

Instrumental Performance, Percussion +1 more

School Admit Rate: 97%Tuition: $39KGPA: 3.49 (W)

Instrumental Performance, Percussion +1 more

18

William Paterson University

Wayne, NJ·Public

School Admit Rate: 90%Tuition: $27KAvg GPA: 2.97 (W)

Guitar, Percussion +1 more

School Admit Rate: 90%Tuition: $27KGPA: 2.97 (W)

Guitar, Percussion +1 more

19

Providence College

Providence, RI·Private

School Admit Rate: 51%Tuition: $68KAvg GPA: 3.54 (W)

Organ, Piano

School Admit Rate: 51%Tuition: $68KGPA: 3.54 (W)

Organ, Piano

20

CUNY Hunter College

New York, NY·Public

School Admit Rate: 54%Tuition: $15KAvg GPA: 4 (W)

Classical Instrumental Performance

School Admit Rate: 54%Tuition: $15KGPA: 4 (W)

Classical Instrumental Performance

21

Curtis Institute of Music

Philadelphia, PA·Private

School Admit Rate: 5%Tuition: $4K

BM MusicBrass, Guitar +6 more

School Admit Rate: 5%Tuition: $4K

BM MusicBrass, Guitar +6 more

22

Gettysburg College

Gettysburg, PA·Private

School Admit Rate: 39%Tuition: $72KAvg GPA: 3.83 (W)

Keyboard Track, Strings Track +1 more

School Admit Rate: 39%Tuition: $72KGPA: 3.83 (W)

Keyboard Track, Strings Track +1 more

23

Kean University

Union, NJ·Public

School Admit Rate: 76%Tuition: $24KAvg GPA: 3.2 (W)

Instrumental Performance, Piano Performance

School Admit Rate: 76%Tuition: $24KGPA: 3.2 (W)

Instrumental Performance, Piano Performance

24

Lancaster Bible College

Lancaster, PA·Private

School Admit Rate: 56%Tuition: $32KAvg GPA: 3.1 (W)

Instrumental Performance

School Admit Rate: 56%Tuition: $32KGPA: 3.1 (W)

Instrumental Performance

25

Moravian University

Bethlehem, PA·Private

School Admit Rate: 54%Tuition: $57KAvg GPA: 3.55 (W)

School Admit Rate: 54%Tuition: $57KGPA: 3.55 (W)

26

Rhode Island College

Providence, RI·Public

School Admit Rate: 92%Tuition: $28KAvg GPA: 3.14 (W)

Brass, Keyboard +3 more

School Admit Rate: 92%Tuition: $28KGPA: 3.14 (W)

Brass, Keyboard +3 more

27

SUNY Potsdam

Potsdam, NY·Public

School Admit Rate: 78%Tuition: $19KAvg GPA: 3.3 (W)

Guitar Track, Harp Track +2 more

School Admit Rate: 78%Tuition: $19KGPA: 3.3 (W)

Guitar Track, Harp Track +2 more

28

Susquehanna University

Selinsgrove, PA·Private

School Admit Rate: 81%Tuition: $60KAvg GPA: 3.7 (W)

Brass, Multiple Woodwinds +5 more

School Admit Rate: 81%Tuition: $60KGPA: 3.7 (W)

Brass, Multiple Woodwinds +5 more

29

The Juilliard School

New York, NY·Private

School Admit Rate: 9%Tuition: $57KSelectiveness: —Class Size: —

Bass Trombone, Bassoon +16 more

School Admit Rate: 9%Tuition: $57KSelectiveness: —Class Size: —

Bass Trombone, Bassoon +16 more

30

University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT·Public

School Admit Rate: 52%Tuition: $44KAvg GPA: 3.79 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —

Instrumental Performance

School Admit Rate: 52%Tuition: $44KGPA: 3.79 (W)Selectiveness: —Class Size: —

Instrumental Performance

31

University of New Hampshire

Durham, NH·Public

School Admit Rate: 88%Tuition: $42KAvg GPA: 3.63 (W)

Brass, Classical Guitar +4 more

School Admit Rate: 88%Tuition: $42KGPA: 3.63 (W)

Brass, Classical Guitar +4 more

32

University of Rochester

Rochester, NY·Private

School Admit Rate: 40%Tuition: $73KAvg GPA: 3.72 (W)

Brass, Guitar +6 more

School Admit Rate: 40%Tuition: $73KGPA: 3.72 (W)

Brass, Guitar +6 more

33

University of Southern Maine

Portland, ME·Public

School Admit Rate: 79%Tuition: $32KAvg GPA: 3.34 (W)

Piano Pedagogy

School Admit Rate: 79%Tuition: $32KGPA: 3.34 (W)

Piano Pedagogy

34

Westminster College

New Wilmington, PA·Private

School Admit Rate: 93%Tuition: $42KAvg GPA: 3.44 (W)

Instrumental Performance, Organ Performance +1 more

School Admit Rate: 93%Tuition: $42KGPA: 3.44 (W)

Instrumental Performance, Organ Performance +1 more

35

Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg

Bloomsburg, PA·Public

School Admit Rate: 93%Tuition: $24KAvg GPA: 3.47 (W)

School Admit Rate: 93%Tuition: $24KGPA: 3.47 (W)

36

Commonwealth University – Mansfield

Mansfield, PA·Public

School Admit Rate: 93%Tuition: $24KAvg GPA: 3.4 (W)

School Admit Rate: 93%Tuition: $24KGPA: 3.4 (W)

37

Westfield State University

Westfield, MA·Public

School Admit Rate: 81%Tuition: $19KAvg GPA: 3.18 (W)

School Admit Rate: 81%Tuition: $19KGPA: 3.18 (W)

38

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, NY·Public

School Admit Rate: 49%Tuition: $35KAvg GPA: 4 (W)

BA MusicBrass, Cello +7 more

School Admit Rate: 49%Tuition: $35KGPA: 4 (W)

BA MusicBrass, Cello +7 more

39

Alfred University

Alfred, NY·Private

School Admit Rate: 74%Tuition: $46KAvg GPA: 3.5 (W)

School Admit Rate: 74%Tuition: $46KGPA: 3.5 (W)

40

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, MA·Public

School Admit Rate: 88%Tuition: $18KAvg GPA: 3.35 (W)

School Admit Rate: 88%Tuition: $18KGPA: 3.35 (W)

41

Brandeis University

Waltham, MA·Private

School Admit Rate: 41%Tuition: $74KAvg GPA: 3.9 (W)

School Admit Rate: 41%Tuition: $74KGPA: 3.9 (W)

42

Eastern Connecticut State University

Willimantic, CT·Public

School Admit Rate: 83%Tuition: $18KAvg GPA: 3.4 (W)

School Admit Rate: 83%Tuition: $18KGPA: 3.4 (W)

43

Monmouth University

West Long Branch, NJ·Private

School Admit Rate: 89%Tuition: $50KAvg GPA: 3.63 (W)

BA Music

School Admit Rate: 89%Tuition: $50KGPA: 3.63 (W)

BA Music

44

Ramapo College of New Jersey

Mahwah, NJ·Public

School Admit Rate: 71%Tuition: $29KAvg GPA: 3.52 (W)

School Admit Rate: 71%Tuition: $29KGPA: 3.52 (W)

45

Sacred Heart University

Fairfield, CT·Private

School Admit Rate: 65%Tuition: $55KAvg GPA: 3.65 (W)

School Admit Rate: 65%Tuition: $55KGPA: 3.65 (W)

46

Stockton University

Galloway, NJ·Public

School Admit Rate: 89%Tuition: $26KAvg GPA: 3.5 (W)

BA Performing Arts

School Admit Rate: 89%Tuition: $26KGPA: 3.5 (W)

BA Performing Arts

47

SUNY Geneseo

Geneseo, NY·Public

School Admit Rate: 66%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.63 (W)

School Admit Rate: 66%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.63 (W)

48

Raritan Valley Community College

Branchburg, NJ·Public

Tuition: $10K

49

SUNY Schenectady County Community College

Schenectady, NY·Public

Tuition: $9K

AS Performing Arts: MusicBowed Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, and Piano, Classical Guitar +4 more

Tuition: $9K

AS Performing Arts: MusicBowed Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, and Piano, Classical Guitar +4 more

50

Bennington College

Bennington, VT·Private

School Admit Rate: 45%Tuition: $73KAvg GPA: 3.53 (W)

School Admit Rate: 45%Tuition: $73KGPA: 3.53 (W)

51

Bucknell University

Lewisburg, PA·Private

School Admit Rate: 29%Tuition: $74KAvg GPA: 3.62 (W)

School Admit Rate: 29%Tuition: $74KGPA: 3.62 (W)

52

Vermont State University

Randolph, VT·Public

School Admit Rate: 82%Tuition: $24K

53

Monroe Community College

Rochester, NY·Public

Tuition: $11K

54

SUNY Niagara

Sanborn, NY·Public

Tuition: $12K

55

SUNY Oneonta

Oneonta, NY·Public

School Admit Rate: 70%Tuition: $20KAvg GPA: 3.48 (W)

School Admit Rate: 70%Tuition: $20KGPA: 3.48 (W)

Ranked Instrumental Performance programs

Boston Conservatory at Berklee

West Chester University

Seton Hill University

Slippery Rock University

CUNY Queens College

Duquesne University

Keene State College

Mercyhurst University

Rider University

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Bard College

Berklee College of Music

Gordon College

Marywood University

Rowan University

University at Buffalo

University of Maine

William Paterson University

Providence College

CUNY Hunter College

Curtis Institute of Music

Gettysburg College

Kean University

Lancaster Bible College

Moravian University

Rhode Island College

SUNY Potsdam

Susquehanna University

The Juilliard School

University of Connecticut

University of New Hampshire

University of Rochester

University of Southern Maine

Westminster College

Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg

Commonwealth University – Mansfield

Westfield State University

Stony Brook University

Alfred University

Bridgewater State University

Brandeis University

Eastern Connecticut State University

Monmouth University

Ramapo College of New Jersey

Sacred Heart University

Stockton University

SUNY Geneseo

Raritan Valley Community College

SUNY Schenectady County Community College

Bennington College

Bucknell University

Vermont State University

Monroe Community College

SUNY Niagara

SUNY Oneonta

More Instrumental Performance Guides

Broad Directory Hubs

Ranked Instrumental Performance programs

Boston Conservatory at Berklee

West Chester University

Seton Hill University

Slippery Rock University

CUNY Queens College

Duquesne University

Keene State College

Mercyhurst University

Rider University

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Bard College

Berklee College of Music

Gordon College

Marywood University

Rowan University

University at Buffalo

University of Maine

William Paterson University

Providence College

CUNY Hunter College

Curtis Institute of Music