With well over 1,000 music programs offered in the U.S., it wasn’t easy to narrow it down to just 50! The aim of these annual awards is to recognize excellence specifically in terms of how U.S. post-secondary institutions serve foreign musicians in particular.

Whether it’s excellence in teaching, superior financial aid or international student services, the schools listed below go above and beyond for their foreign musician students and we thank them for helping to foster a global community of artists, right here in the United States.

* Please bear in mind the difficulty in adjudicating such a competition. The number of factors to consider is virtually endless and one student’s experience may not reflect another’s. *

The Middle Tennessee State University School of Music presents over 180 concerts every year in genres from fully staged operas to chamber music performances to jazz concerts. Numerous scholarships are available for exceptional musicians who show a likelihood for getting involved on campus. Another significant advantage of MTSU is its proximity to Nashville, Tennessee, one of the U.S.’ top thriving music communities.

Western Michigan University’s School of Music strikes a balance between intimacy and size. With under 400 enrolled students, it’s a strong institution for foreign musicians who wish to experience both smaller class sizes and a wider collaborative community. Western Michigan has built a reputation both for music innovation and for warmly welcoming international students. Their smaller foreign community both encourages international musicians to integrate into the U.S. community and gives them the opportunity to stand out.

With world-famous faculty, newly renovated facilities, and an exceptionally low tuition, the Aaron Copland School of Music is the ideal choice for foreign musicians who intend to pursue a distinguished education, but may be constrained by financial resources. Located in Queens, New York, the school also offers excellent connections to the thriving music scene in New York City. With over 700 foreign students every year and scholarships available, Queens College can be both accessible and extremely welcoming for international musicians.

Shenandoah Conservatory is competitive and exclusive, making it a top choice for international musicians with discriminating taste. Many of Shenandoah’s graduates hold positions in opera companies and symphony orchestras all over the world. International students will benefit from this prestigious school’s proximity to Washington D.C. as well as the wide variety of areas of study, from church music to jazz studies to music therapy and beyond.

With 36 ensembles and its won Grammy-nominated record label, Boyer College is a premiere destination for foreign musicians who want to immerse themselves in an environment brimming with eminent players and educators. Boyer College faculty are Fulbright Scholars, Grammy award winners/nominees, and more. With a 27% international student body and 83% of undergraduates receiving scholarships, Temple University is a strong candidate for foreign musicians.

Consistently ranked as one of the top performing arts schools in America, the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance is a top choice for foreign musicians interested in musical theatre and performing arts. With hundreds of performing opportunities every year, merit-based scholarships available, and a thriving international student services department, the University of Michigan is an extremely strong candidate for any foreign musician wishing to pursue their studies in the U.S.

Located on Music Row in Nashville, the Belmont University School of Music is an ideal choice for foreign musicians who want to be right in the action of a major and thriving music scene. With an array of degree-granting programs from commercial music to church music to composition and beyond, Belmont has produced a large number of alumni success stories. The institution also offers a warm welcome to foreign musicians and prides itself on its hybrid of being a large university but still offering intimacy and personal attention.

Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of Arts has one main goal for itself and its students: to start movements. The school works hard to attract musicians who are hard-working innovators and has a strong international student services department to help achieve this goal. Three out of four SMU students receive scholarships and/or financial aid, making it a potentially affordable option for foreign musicians. With 6:1 student-teacher ratios and a strong entrepreneurial focus, SMU truly is a school for musicians who wish to pursue music as a sustainable career.

One of the most sought-after music schools in the country, Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music boasts an all-star faculty of working artists. Merit-based scholarships are available for this top-tier school, where its degree programs are based on a liberal arts education, meaning that students emerge well-rounded and prepared to take the next step in their music careers. Although the Shepherd School of Music is one of the youngest schools in the United States, it has quickly catapulted to international acclaim and attention, with faculty and alumni earning prestigious awards and enjoying rewarding careers in music.

Florida State University’s College of Music offers students a blend of affordability and a premiere music education. Scholarships are available to help exceptional music students fund their studies. Faculty members are Grammy award winners, Pulitzer Prize winners, a Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship recipient, and more. The international students departments hosts orientations and events to help foreign musicians acclimate and thrive at FSU, making it a top contender for international students with financial constraints to be able to pursue their music studies in the U.S.