Billboard Names Its Top Music Schools for Aspiring Industry Pros
US music trade outlet Billboard has released its annual Top Music Schools list, naming institutions it considers benchmarks for students pursuing careers in the music business. Among the schools called out are Berklee College of Music in Boston and the USC Thornton School of Music, part of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Billboard revealed part of the list via a carousel post on its official Instagram, with the full rundown published in an accompanying feature.
How the list was compiled
According to Billboard, selections were based on four criteria: recommendations from music-industry professionals, alumni data supplied by the schools themselves, Billboard's own long-running coverage of music-education options, and information requested directly from the institutions.
Who the list is for
The ranking is aimed at students targeting careers in the music business broadly — not just performance or songwriting tracks, but also industry management, production, and related professional paths.
Schools named so far
The following institutions are confirmed as part of the list based on what's been made public; the complete roster is available through Billboard's own channels.
- Berklee College of Music (Boston)
- USC Thornton School of Music (Los Angeles)