Music College Scholarships

Music scholarships are some of the most competitive scholarships in existence. The reason for this is that there are so many different types of musicians, and there are so few acclaimed music schools. And the competition doesn't stop after graduation: in 2008, only about 240,000 musicians, singers, and related workers were employed in the U.S., according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and most of them were working in large cities like New York City, Los Angeles, Nashville, Chicago, and Las Vegas. But perhaps the biggest reason for the stiff competition for music scholarships is that there is generally more money in music scholarships than there is in any other type of scholarship. In fact, some schools and granting organizations offer partial and sometimes full scholarships for musicians.

Musicians of any age -- sometimes even from the age of 10 and up -- are eligible for music scholarships. Some granting institutions do not require GPAs or academic scores of anything above average, and many do not put any financial requirements on the scholarships, meaning that any person of any financial background is eligible for scholarship funds. Of course, each scholarship is different.

Essentially, two different types of entitiesfundmusic scholarships: music foundations like the Young Musicians Foundation and the BMI Music Foundation, and also colleges like the Aspen Music School and many different state universities. Both American and international music foundations offer music scholarships for talented musicians. Generally, individuals win these scholarships through competition with other prospective music students. Some university scholarships award a place as a student in the school's music department, while others give money to current students.

List of Music Scholarships

• American College of Musicians/National Guild of Piano Teachers $200 Scholarships — $200 awarded each year to high school seniors who will be pursuing studies in music,who are student affiliates of Piano Guild, and who meet all other requirements. Learn more about the scholarship on the application.


• Chopin Foundation of the United States Scholarship — Renewable scholarships of $1,000 awarded to 10 students between the ages of 14 and 17 who are outstanding pianists, and who have a special affinity for interpreting Chopin's music.


• CollegeBound Foundation Janet B. Sondheim Scholarship — Renewable $500 scholarship awarded each year to one Baltimore City high school graduate with an undergraduate college music or other fine arts major. Learn more about the specific scholarship here.


• John Lennon Scholarship Program — Three scholarships for songwriters and composers with prizes totaling $20,000 awarded each year for up to threecollege students between the ages of 17 and 24 who submit the best original songs to this competition.


• National Association of Pastoral Musicians Scholarships — $1,000 to $3,000 awarded each year to undergraduate or graduate students majoring in theology/pastoral music. Many of these scholarships are associated with Catholic colleges and universities.


• National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts YoungArts Program — High school students are eligible to win a variety of awards and honors, including up to $10,000 monetary awards for individual winners, by applying to the YoungArts program. Categories include jazz, music, voice, and many more. Learn more about the program's music discipline here.


• Sigma Alpha Iota Scholarships — Multiple scholarships available for undergraduate and graduate students who are members of this music fraternity, including $1,500 awarded each year to an SAI undergraduate student majoring in music with an emphasis in jazz studies through the Jazz Studies Scholarship; and $2,000 awarded each year to a SAI undergraduate studying music business, music technology, or a related areathrough the Music Business/Technology Scholarship.

Top Online Colleges

More Info	Grand Canyon University - Bachelor’s, Master’s, & Doctorate’s Degrees. At Grand Canyon University, students are offered the same quality education online as they are at traditional college campuses. They are an accredited college, which is highly valued by employers all around the world.
More Info	Liberty University - Associate’s, Bachelor’s, & Master’s Degrees. Liberty offers campus, online, or blended degree programs for students all around the world. Liberty provides a flexible and welcoming experience for students who want to continue their education in a Christian environment.
More Info	Brandman University - Bachelor’s & Master’s Degrees. Brandman University offers complete support throughout a student's educational career. Faculty members have real-world experience and are trained educators in their fields of expertise. Program concentrations include those in Education, Business, Criminal Justice, and Social Science.
More Info	Saint Leo University - Associate’s, Bachelor’s, & Master’s Degrees. Saint Leo University offers students a variety of different degree choices to truly help them reach their career goals. As an accredited college, Saint Leo University offers a reputable degree that can be obtained at the convenience of their students.
More Info	Post University - Associate’s, Bachelor’s, & Master’s Degrees. Since 1890 Post University has been a student-focused, carreer-driven institution helping students to pursue their professional goals. Licenced by the state of connecticut throguh the department of higher education post truly is a great school and comes with high accredidation.
More Info	Kaplan University - Associate’s, Bachelor’s, & Master’s Degrees. Kaplan University is a premiere destination for students in obtaining their college degree online. Kaplan University Online offers a dynamic curriculum to every student and are taught by the very best professors in their field of study.

Paying for school is not easy, but we are here to help. OEDb's student finance section will help you find the money you need to pay your tuition and other college expenses. We cover scholarships, college grants, and student loans. Scholarships and grants are both forms of "free money", meaning they don't need to be paid back. Scholarships are typically awarded by businesses or individuals, with the money being earmarked specifically for tuition. They can be awarded based on a student's location or by religious affiliation, such as Catholicism or Islam. Grants are typically awarded by governments or non-profit organizations and the money often can be applied to several different expenses a student may incur, not solely tuition. They can be awarded based on location or ethnicity, for instance African American or Hispanic. Loans are not considered "free money", because unlike scholarships and grants, they do need to be paid back after graduation. Common federal loans include Perkins and Stafford. Loans are also available by location.