Last updated June 25, 2022
As part of our series How to Fully Fund Your Master’s Degree, here is a list of universities that offer fully funded Master’s Programs in Music Education or fund most students in the Music Education master’s program. A master’s degree in music education prepares students to teach in high schools and middle schools, community colleges, lead private studios, and more.
“Full funding” is a financial aid package for full-time students that includes full tuition remission as well as an annual stipend or salary during the entire program, which for Master’s degrees is usually 1-2 years. Funding usually comes with the expectation that students will teach or complete research in their field of study. Not all universities fully fund their master’s students, which is why researching the financial aid offerings of many different programs, including small and lesser-known schools both in the U.S. and abroad, is essential.
The ProFellow Database for graduate and doctoral study also spotlights external funding opportunities for graduate school, including dissertation research, fieldwork, language study, and summer work experiences.
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Universities Offer to Fund Master’s in Music Education
Ball State University
(Muncie, IN): The School of Music offers a number of assistantships to students, with both full-and half-time positions available. Awards come with a stipend and remission of most of the cost of tuition.
Case Western Reserve University
(Cleveland, Ohio): The music education program has significant funding for tuition waivers and graduate assistantships. Graduate assistants support many areas of the music education program, including ensembles (bands, choirs, orchestras), initiatives in research and music technology, and undergraduate music education courses.
Florida International University
(Miami, FL): The FIU School of Music offers graduate assistantships to exceptional candidates pursuing a Master of Science in Music Education. Students awarded an assistantship will receive full tuition coverage and an additional stipend of $7,500 annually. Assistantships are highly competitive and limited in availability.
Florida State University
(Tallahassee, FL): All students are automatically considered for a graduate assistantship while they apply to the College of Music. Graduate assistants receive a full tuition waiver and an annual stipend that ranges from $7,998 to $15,997. University fellowships for graduate students are available to a limited number of students in all disciplines, these awards range from $5,000 to $30,000. Out-of-state tuition scholarships are available for all non-Florida residents and College of Music students.
University of Houston
(Houston, TX): Scholarships are available for students at all levels of study who demonstrate outstanding accomplishment and promise. For nonresident students, merit-based scholarships may make a student eligible to receive a tuition waiver. Teaching and research assistantships in music education are available to full-time graduate students. All assistants receive a stipend and scholarship.
Illinois State University
(Normal, IL): The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. Graduate assistants receive monthly wages paid and a waiver for 100% of tuition. The School of Music awards a limited number of Graduate Tuition Waivers on a competitive basis to incoming students who show promise for success and who have not received an assistantship or other awards funding tuition costs.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
(Urbana, IL): The School of Music offers financial aid to graduate students in the form of graduate tuition scholarships, assistantships, and fellowships. All students who apply by stated deadlines are considered for merit-based awards. Fellowships are one-year renewable awards carrying full tuition and partial fee waiver and a stipend. Assistantships at 25% or higher carry a full tuition waiver and partial fee waiver with a stipend.
University of Kansas
(Lawrence, Kansas): The School of Music awards graduate teaching assistantships in all areas. On occasion, graduate research assistantships are available in music education and music therapy. Award amounts generally range from $3,400 – $13,600 per year and carry with them tuition waivers ranging from 25% to 100% depending upon the percentage of the appointment.
University of Memphis
(Memphis, TN): The School of Music offers a variety of financial assistance to help support graduate education, in the form of fellowships, assistantships, scholarships, and internships available to talented and academically qualified students. Graduate Assistantships cover tuition up to 9 credit hours, apart from any fees, and provide a stipend of $6,000 for MM per academic year.
University of Minnesota
(Minneapolis, MN): More than 150 fellowships and assistantships are awarded annually to graduate music students. Students receiving a minimum 25% assistantship pay resident tuition rates and receive a tuition benefit, health insurance, and a stipend. Graduate students are also considered for School of Music merit-based fellowships.
Northwestern University
(Evanston, IL ): Master of Music students have the opportunity to receive partial or full tuition grants. Numerous graduate assistant positions are available for graduate students.
Temple University
(Philadelphia, PA): Graduate assistantships, fellowships, performance grants, and tuition scholarships are open to both master’s and doctoral students. All awards are highly competitive and based on a record of academic and artistic excellence. These awards include full or partial tuition remission, a cash stipend per year, and health insurance.
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