With thousands of music colleges to choose from around the country, the Pacific Northwest, comprising Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, offers some of the best and most unique programs to consider. This blog will provide a deep dive into University of Oregon School of Music, University of Puget Sound, Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University, and University of Washington School of Music. However, there are numerous other colleges worth investigating in your school selection in this region.
Why Attend Music School in the Pacific Northwest?
Students often choose to attend college in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) because of its unique blend of urban innovation and natural beauty. The PNW is known for its breathtaking landscapes — the Pacific coastline, majestic mountain ranges, dense forests, rivers and lakes; and numerous outdoor activities, such as hiking, kayaking, camping, skiing, etc. Major cities like Seattle and Portland also provide vibrant cultural scenes including music festivals, touring artists, symphony orchestras, operas, theatre productions, and more. Notably, Seattle is the birthplace of Grunge music and offers a thriving jazz scene for students to explore and participate in.
4 Top Programs for Music Majors in the Pacific Northwest
University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is located in Eugene, approximately two hours south of Portland. It is a public university with about 24,000 students enrolled. The School of Music and Dance offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as minors and opportunities for non-majors. They offer Bachelor of Music degrees in performance, jazz studies, composition, and music education; a Bachelor of Arts or Science in Music with focuses in general music, applied voice, applied piano, music history and culture, music technology, and music theory. Graduate degrees consist of Master’s in: performance, conducting, intermedia music technology, jazz studies, composition, music education, music theory, and musicology; and Doctoral/PhD degrees in: performance, data-driven music performance and composition, music composition, music education, music theory, and musicology.
The School of Music and Dance strives to foster experimentation and innovation by supporting the creation of new works that are grounded in the traditional genre. They are known to have the largest number of full-time, in-residence music faculty between Los Angeles and the Canadian border. The school offers over 30 ensembles, providing students with ample performance opportunities. Additionally, they prioritize national and international travel. Each year, one or more of its ensembles tour a different part of the country or world to a festival, conference, or competition.
The School also offers scholarship opportunities based on music performance and/or academic merit.
University of Puget Sound
Moving north to Washington, we first run into University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. This private, liberal arts college is known for offering a conservatory-style music program within its School of Music. Most liberal arts colleges only have music departments, but University of Puget Sound’s School of Music provides students with intense, professional-level musical training, while still giving them a broad, interdisciplinary liberal arts education. There are approximately 1,600 students enrolled in the entire university, allowing the student-to-faculty ratio to be as low as 10:1. The accessibility to faculty is one of the factors that featured University of Puget Sound in the book Colleges That Change Lives. The campus has a “Hogwarts” like feel with Tudor-Gothic architecture and views of Mt. Rainier, and its small enrollment gives students a close-knit community.
University of Puget Sound’s School of Music offers Bachelor of Music degrees in performance and music education, a Bachelor of Arts in Music, and a Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in songwriting. Among its 10 choral and instrumental ensembles (traditional, jazz, and pop), multiple chamber groups, and other student organizations with performance opportunities, the school produces over 100 events annually.
Applicants are automatically considered for merit-based and music-based scholarships when they apply and audition.
Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University
About 30 minutes north, in the heart of Seattle, resides Cornish College of the Arts, which recently merged with Seattle University. Cornish is known for its primary focus on performing and visual arts and has a reputation for being avant-garde, interdisciplinary, and deeply integrated into the Pacific Northwest professional arts scene. It has pushed boundaries with its contemporary music and has been referred to as the “Juilliard of the West”. With an urban campus feel, the college sits near downtown Seattle, providing students with access to arts venues and performance opportunities. While the enrollment at Cornish is 600-700 students, the recent merger with Seattle University will expand this network. Cornish students will be able to access the opportunities of a traditional college, including sports teams and broad elective options, while maintaining a small, conservatory feel.
Cornish College of the Arts offers a Bachelor of Music degree that encompasses the areas of performance, composition, music theory and ear training, music technology, music history and literature, pedagogy, and professional practice (career development and networking in the industry). Instead of concentrating on one particular genre, Cornish adopts a “genre agnostic”/”polystylistic” approach, encouraging students to explore a wide range of musical styles (classical, jazz, contemporary, experimental). The school’s curriculum prepares students for diverse careers in music.
In addition to the Bachelor of Music degree, Cornish offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. This is one of the only programs on the West Coast that prepares students to succeed in the musical theatre industry.
Merit scholarships are based on the application and portfolio/audition.
University of Washington
The last stop is at the University of Washington School of Music, also in Seattle. This public institution is a top-tier R1 research university that provides students with a deep academic foundation and high-level performance training. There are about 63,000 students enrolled in University of Washington, so it is a much larger college than the previously discussed schools. The School of Music has been granting degrees for over 100 years and has remained dedicated to creating a student environment that cultivates creativity, academic discovery, and represents a wide range of diverse cultures.
Similar to University of Oregon, Washington offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Bachelor of Music degrees are offered in performance, composition, jazz studies, and music education, a Bachelor of Arts in Music, and a Bachelor of Arts in Ethnomusicology. At the graduate level, they offer Master’s and Doctoral/PhD degrees in performance, conducting, composition, ethnomusicology, jazz, music education, music history, and music theory.
UW’s School of Music offers many performance opportunities through its ensembles, including unique options such as the Baroque ensemble, Gamelan ensemble, UW Steelband, UW Glee Club, and Zimarimba ensemble.
Admission to University of Washington School of Music requires applying to the University and then requesting an audition through the School of Music.
Other Stand Out Pacific Northwest Programs
There are many other outstanding Pacific Northwest and West Coast music programs worth looking into for particular areas of study or focus:
- Portland State University School of Music & Theater is known for its “urban campus” in the heart of Portland’s vibrant arts scene. It offers unique programs like Sonic Arts and Music Production, a program in music technology, sound design for games/film, and creative coding; a Laptop ensemble, and global music ensembles (Gamelan, Mariachi, Taiko).
- Lewis & Clark College is a liberal arts college located in Portland with a department of music. Its program focuses on global citizenship with world music integration, a legacy of gamelan, and a study abroad music program in London.
- Oregon State University is a public institution located in Corvallis with a School of Visual, Performing, and Design Arts. It has shifted from traditional to a modern STEAM program emphasizing creativity and technology. They just opened a new facility in 2024 — Patricia Valian Reser Center for the Creative Arts (PRAx), and it has become one of the most advanced arts facilities in the West.
- Central Washington University is a public institution located in Ellensburg. The School of Music has a reputation for being the region’s “teacher powerhouse”. It is one of the most respected in the Pacific Northwest for Music Education, with nearly a 100% job placement rate.
- Seattle Pacific University is a private, Christian Liberal Arts institution. The Music Department houses the first and only Music Therapy program in Washington. It is a Bachelor of Arts degree with an emphasis in psychology, with a clinical focus, that prepares students for board certification. As a Christian university, it integrates faith into the arts, focusing on music as a tool for service and community leadership.
- Gonzaga University is a private Jesuit institution in Spokane. It is the only Jesuit university on the West Coast to offer both a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. The program focuses on the “Citizen-Artist” and how music can serve the community and promote social justice.
- Washington State University is a public, land-grant institution in Pullman. The School of Music has a reputation as a “jazz powerhouse” and a reputation for producing world-class performers and innovators in jazz and contemporary composition. Students and ensembles often win DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards, and the school operates its own professional record label.
- Idaho State University is a public institution in Pocatello with a Department of Music within its School of Performing Arts. It has recently gained a reputation for its commercial music program. The department operates its own record label, City Creek Records, where students learn recording, mixing, mastering, and the business of being an independent artist.
- University of Idaho Lionel Hampton School of Music is a public land-grant institution in Moscow. It is the first school of music named after a jazz musician and the only one named after an African American jazz artist. It is a program for students who want a deep, performance-heavy education balanced with the resources of a major public research university.
Find Your Best-Fit Music College in the Pacific Northwest with Expert Guidance
With so many music programs in the Pacific Northwest, finding the right fit for your unique goals and talents can feel overwhelming. That’s where Inside Music Schools comes in. Our expert admissions advisors help students identify the best schools to apply to, taking into account academic strengths, career aspirations, and musical interests. From crafting standout applications to preparing for competitive auditions, we guide you every step of the way. Whether you’re drawn to a conservatory, a university music program, or a specialized contemporary music school, Inside Music Schools can help you navigate the process with confidence. Get in touch with us today to start building your path to success in music!
Rachel Hanusa Keck
Rachel Hanusa is a seasoned professional with 12 years of experience in higher education. While at the University of Miami Frost School of Music, she launched the first fully online graduate degree programs. Under her direction, these successful programs enrolled a diverse student population with a 98% student satisfaction rate. Since 2022, she has been working for the Healthcare, Education and Not-For-Profit division of Bank of America, supporting executives and a sales team. In her leisure time, she volunteers nearly 200 hours a year with multiple non-profit organizations, including two community bands where she plays the trumpet.