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. *

Students who wish to pursue a rigorous music program will not be disappointed by the Peabody Institute at John Hopkins University. As one of the oldest conservatories, in America, this distinguished program has a two-part focus: training musicians to be their best and preparing them for a successful and sustainable career as a musician. Both graduate assistantships and scholarships are available to help make the program more accessible for foreign and domestic students alike.

With a number of scholarships available, extremely close proximity to New York City, and a smaller price tag than many of the nearby options, William Paterson University is an excellent choice for many music students. Its jazz program in particular has seen many luminaries walk its halls. Directors of the program have included the late Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Garrett, and Bill Charlap. Other top options for music study at William Paterson include performance, music management, and more.

Founded in 1985, The Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University is acclaimed as one of the best music schools in all of the United States. With 18 ensembles and hundreds of concerts every year, the opportunities to perform and collaborate at Northwestern are exceptional. With a huge array of events and services available to foreign students, Northwestern is an excellent choice for international musicians wishing to settle in quickly to life on campus and in the United States, especially if staying in the U.S. beyond university is a consideration.

With nearly 1500 students, the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music is hugely attractive to a wide variety of musicians, with good reason: it is consistently ranked one of the top music schools in the country and boasts excellent facilities, distinguished faculty, and countless performance opportunities for its students. International musicians benefit from a diverse array of services especially for foreign students, as well as assistantship and scholarship opportunities.

With hundreds of Grammys and other prestigious awards attributed to Berklee’s alumni and faculty, it’s no wonder this illustrious school continues to rank exceptionally well. Berklee has also recently affiliated with Boston Conservatory to provide unparalleled access to the best that each institution has to offer. Foreign students at Berklee will enjoy the company of many of their peers (between 33% and 53% are from international destinations), as well as over $34 million in scholarship funds available.

With the nation’s first degree in Jazz Studies, UNT’s College of Music has always been committed to innovation. Studying at one of the largest music schools in America means that students have access to unprecedented performance and rehearsal spaces, excellent faculty, and a huge number of resources and performing opportunities. Enrolled foreign musicians have access to merit-based scholarships and international student advisors to assist in transitioning to life in the U.S. and thriving at UNT.

Thanks to a celebrity faculty and an unbeatable location in central Los Angeles, USC’s Thornton School of Music is ideal for foreign musicians who wish to be in one of the epicenters of the global music industry. Foreign musicians who seek conservatory-style training blended into a real-world context should look no further than Thornton. With merit-based scholarships available and approximate 1 in 3 students receiving significant aid, foreign musicians can benefit from a top-tier education at reduced expense.

The New School prides itself on being on the leading edge of artistry and its programs reflect this innovative priority. New School students are groomed to be leaders in the real world of the music industry, all while studying in the world’s musical mecca: New York City. Faculty members are working musicians and the student body is small and intimate. The New School also offers a number of excellent programs to support foreign musicians in acclimating to the school and to the country.

With renowned performing musicians as faculty members and state-of-the-art facilities, Bard College Conservatory of Music is an excellent choice for foreign musicians with discriminating tastes. Bard’s commitment to fostering well-rounded musicians means that, for undergraduates, pursuing a double-degree is required, which, in addition to broadening your horizons, has the added benefit of allowing foreign musicians to stay in the U.S. for a full extra year.  Merit-based financial aid is also available to help support your studies.

UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music alumni boast an impressive 50 Grammys from winners including Star Wars composer John Williams, singer-songwriter Randy Newman, and more. Thanks to a huge financial gift from Mr. Herb Alpert, students enjoy access to top faculty, resources, and performance spaces. Located in Los Angeles, this school is ideal for students wishing to pursue their music education at one of the best colleges in the country while residing in one of the world’s foremost artistic communities.