1
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Acceptance Rate: 6%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 10,500
Tuition: $63,452
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Top 20 Colleges for Music and Arts Culture
Colleges with the most vibrant music, arts, and cultural scene.
How we ranked these schools
Schools offering performing arts programs are scored on conservatory status, study abroad availability, institutional size, and academic quality. Larger schools in cultural centers tend to offer the richest arts scenes. Rankings are curated based on widely recognized lists from Princeton Review and Niche, combined with My School List editorial judgment. For informational purposes only.
2
MIT
MA · Acceptance Rate: 4%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 4,600
Tuition: $61,990
3
University of Chicago
IL · Acceptance Rate: 5%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 7,500
Tuition: $64,260
4
Harvard University
MA · Acceptance Rate: 3%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 7,200
Tuition: $62,250
5
Yale University
CT · Acceptance Rate: 5%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 6,500
Tuition: $64,700
6
Princeton University
NJ · Acceptance Rate: 4%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 5,600
Tuition: $59,710
7
Stanford University
CA · Acceptance Rate: 4%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 8,100
Tuition: $61,731
8
Columbia University
NY · Acceptance Rate: 4%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 9,200
Tuition: $65,524
9
Cornell University
NY · Acceptance Rate: 9%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 15,000
Tuition: $63,200
10
Duke University
NC · Acceptance Rate: 7%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 6,800
Tuition: $63,054
11
Harvey Mudd College
CA · Acceptance Rate: 13%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 900
Tuition: $63,468
12
Brown University
RI · Acceptance Rate: 5%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 7,200
Tuition: $65,146
13
Dartmouth College
NH · Acceptance Rate: 6%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 4,500
Tuition: $63,399
14
Vanderbilt University
TN · Acceptance Rate: 6%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 7,100
Tuition: $62,194
15
Rice University
TX · Acceptance Rate: 9%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 4,500
Tuition: $56,874
16
Washington University in St. Louis
MO · Acceptance Rate: 12%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 8,000
Tuition: $61,750
17
Johns Hopkins University
MD · Acceptance Rate: 8%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 6,100
Tuition: $60,480
18
Northwestern University
IL · Acceptance Rate: 7%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 8,800
Tuition: $63,468
19
Carnegie Mellon University
PA · Acceptance Rate: 12%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 7,400
Tuition: $62,260
20
Amherst College
MA · Acceptance Rate: 9%
Type: University
Performing Arts: Yes
Enrollment: 1,900
Tuition: $66,080
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