Music Careers Start at Columbia
Shape Your Sound With a Music Degree from One of the Top Colleges for Music
Columbia College Chicago offers music degrees that prepare you to perform, write, record, and produce across contemporary, jazz, and popular genres. As one of the leading music colleges in Chicago, Columbia gives music majors opportunities to learn from GRAMMY-winning faculty, collaborate with peers, and perform in more than 200 concerts and workshops each year.
If you're interested in music, you can choose from one of four music degrees:
- BA in Music composition for media
- BA in Music production
- BS in Music technology
- BMus in performance and songwriting
You'll refine your skills through private lessons, ensemble work, and coursework tailored to your degree — whether that's producing and recording original music, composing for media, mastering the technical side of sound, or performing on stage. With a focus on both artistry and career readiness, you'll be equipped with the skills and connections to thrive on stage or behind the scenes.
Learn More About Columbia College Chicago
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Gain a Competitive Edge in Creative Arts at Columbia
Live in a City at the Forefront of Arts and Culture
At Columbia, your campus extends into one of the most dynamic music cities in the country. Our South Loop location puts you minutes from legendary clubs, iconic performance venues, neighborhood listening rooms, and outdoor festivals where new sounds are always emerging. Chicago gives you countless chances to hear live music, meet local artists, and see how creative communities shape the city.
As a full-time student, you'll have a Ventra U-Pass for unlimited access to the transit system, making it easy to catch a set across town or discover a new favorite venue. Whether you're checking out a show with friends or exploring the city's diverse musical neighborhoods, Chicago becomes part of your everyday rhythm.
Columbia's Music Degrees by the Numbers
Music Schools in the World
The Hollywood Reporter
Student Ensemble Courses
Performances, Concerts, and Workshops per Year
Explore Our Music Programs
Performance and Songwriting (BMus)
Bring your musical ideas to life with the Bachelor of Music in Performance and Songwriting. This program lets you sharpen your craft as a singer, instrumentalist, or songwriter and collaborate with peers in ensembles, private lessons, and live performances.
Music Production (BA)
With the Music Production BA, you'll learn to transform your ideas into finished tracks that are ready for the world to hear. The program teaches you not just to perform but also to write, record, produce, and market your own originals in genres such as jazz, pop, and more.
Music Composition for Media (BA)
Write scores that move people or explore sound in unexpected ways. Music Composition for Media lets you shape your musical ideas into works for media, performance, or original art. Columbia faculty help you develop your composition skills, whether it's composing for screen, ensemble, or experimental sound worlds.
Music Technology (BS)
Music Technology is where sound meets innovation. In this BS program, you'll design and experiment with hardware and software, build sound installations, apply the fundamentals of sound engineering, and work in specialized labs to explore how technology is reshaping music's future.
Creative Careers Start at Columbia
Columbia grads launch creative careers across industries — from design and media to performance, business, and tech. Ninety-six percent of recent graduates report being employed or achieving success in creative practice, and you'll graduate career ready and connected too.
Columbia music majors are prepared for a wide range of creative careers, including: record label executive, tour and festival manager, music producer, recording artist, live performer, songwriter/composer, music educator.
"There are so many great resources. When I was in the audio department, you could edit sound and do voice-overs and use industry-standard software and studios. And I can rent out equipment as a music student."
— Charlie Curtis-Beard '19, Music Alum
Columbia Makes Art School in Chicago More Affordable
A Columbia degree is an investment in your creativity—and we're committed to making it accessible. With 99 percent of first-year students receiving financial aid, you'll find the support you need to focus on what matters most: creating.
Ways Columbia helps you save:
- Merit-Based Scholarships: You're automatically considered for these when you apply to Columbia.
- Talent-Based Scholarships: You can choose to apply by submitting a portfolio or completing an audition.
- Visit and FAFSA Awards: Up to $8,000 over four years for visiting campus, plus $1,000 just for filing the FAFSA.
Faculty Spotlight: Michael Freeman
Michael Freeman is a GRAMMY-winning producer and engineer whose work has shaped the sound of contemporary blues. An adjunct instructor in Columbia's School of Audio & Music, he was recently inducted into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame as a “Legendary Producer,” recognizing a career that spans acclaimed albums, live performances, and industry-defining collaborations.