What Music Scholarships are Available for College?
Music majors may find music scholarships for college from many sources that support musical talents of all kinds. Are you a vocalist? Drawn to music performance or music education? Do you compose jazz or play classical music with a musical instrument? Perhaps you want to go for a music therapy degree program. Various scholarship providers also offer financial aid for music related studies to those who qualify.
Colleges with a school of music or music department and nonprofits in the performing arts space may offer college scholarships for music. Some nonprofits may also ask for a performance CD, audition or video recording which helps them narrow down finalists.
The NFAA youngARTS Program is one. It is specifically for high school students/high school seniors. Eligible applicants must be a U.S. citizen, or permanent resident/green card recipient. Also, you must be able to show they are legally able to receive taxable income in the United States. Criteria include age (15 to 18 years old, or those in grades 10 through 12) and talent for the arts. Selected winners receive cash prizes between $100 and $10,000.
Many genres of music also create awards for music students in need of financial assistance. So, use your interests to fuel your search for scholarships. If your favorite music is pop, rock, indie or R&B, you could apply for the John Lennon Scholarship.
In 1997, Yoko Ono and the BMI Foundation came together to offer annual awards that honor John’s legacy. It is open to college student songwriters and composers. BMI also offers the Peermusic Latin Scholarship competition which the genre is Latino music. The BMI Jazz Master Scholarship is one for graduate students who show promise in Jazz.
10 Scholarships for Music You Should Play for in 2024
Sing, compose, conduct, or play your way through college with the help of a scholarship. Check out these 10 college scholarships for music majors. Keep the application deadline in mind and apply soon!
Davidson Fellowship
Rainbow City Band Scholarship
University of Bridgeport Music Scholarship for International Students
Benny Goodman Foundation Scholarship
CBCF Spouses USA Performing and Visual Arts Scholarship
Jazz Education Network (JEN) Scholarship Program
MTNA Chamber Music Performance Competition
SBO Magazine Music Student Scholarship
Mr. Digital Piano Innovative Annual Writing Scholarship
Spotlight Awards Program
Could You Get a Music Scholarship for Playing an Instrument?
Yes, if you qualify, you could receive a scholarship award for playing a musical instrument. Instrumentalists may play the piano, guitar, flute, clarinet, violin, trumpet, drums etc.
One grantor is the National Federation of Music Clubs. NFMC offers scholarships for various types of musicians attending a U.S. college. The NFMC Elizabeth Paris French Horn Award is one. It is open to full time undergraduate students who submit a performance CD. NFMC also has other awards such as a music composition competition that’s open to the U.S. military.
Could You Get a Full Ride Scholarship for Music?
Yes, very talented students going into music programs may be eligible for a full ride award. A full ride is also a merit scholarship and you could expect to compete for these coveted awards.
Who wouldn’t want to win a scholarship that paid for tuition, fees and extras – like housing? Some full rides renew for up to four years too. You may have to maintain your grade point average (GPA) for this to happen.
Eligibility to receive a full ride scholarship varies. For some, you might need a solid scholarship application and to show financial need plus talent. For others such as Berklee Merit Based Scholarships you may have to audition or pass through an interview.
Both the Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee consider new first year musician applicants to their full time music degree or diploma programs. One to try for is the Presidential Scholarship. Selectees receive a sum that pays for tuition, on campus housing and the required laptop. To win, you must show the highest musical merit and financial need.
The Davidson Fellowship is another notable music scholarship. It is open to students who come up with a “significant piece of work” aimed at making the lives of others better. Awards are granted in the amount of $50,000, $25,000, and $10,000.
Is Going to Music School Worth It?
Going to music school could be worth the time and investment. You could also hone skills, learn current methods and network. Today’s music programs may produce well rounded:
Musicians
Music Teachers
Producers
Agents
Talent scouts
Vocal coaches
Conductors
There are also programs that focus on the music business. These may also prepare for other career paths that may require a college degree.
To put yourself at ease, weigh potential cost of attendance vs job outlook/salary. Tuition and fees at The Juilliard School were $52,500 in academic year 2022-23, according to the NCES. 55% of students receive grant or scholarship aid to offset these costs, also reports the National Center for Education Statistics.
As for job outlook, some careers in entertainment are growing faster than average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many of these paths use the Bachelor’s degree as entry level. Salaries vary, but tend to pay above the norm. Here are a few potential music careers you may pursue:
You’ve worked hard. We’d hate for a little thing like money to be the roadblock between you and your dreams. Schmidt Vocal Competition winners who choose to pursue a career in music may be eligible for need-based scholarship assistance to their college or university of choice.
The Grand Teton Music Festival is proud to announce the 4th Annual Scholarship Competition in honor of Music Director Sir Donald Runnicles. The competition is open to graduating high school seniors from Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana who will pursue their primary studies in music (classical, jazz, or other) at an accredited four-year college with a music program recognized by the National Association of Schools of Music, or a conservatory with a widely recognized national profile such as The Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, or the New England Conservatory.
Pearl is proud to announce the “Musicians Making A Difference” college scholarship initiative that will award $10,000 annually in the amount of two $5,000 scholarships to high school musicians who have demonstrated the ability to change themselves, their community, and those around them. A diverse panel of Pearl staff and artists will select recipients based on the student’s contributions to their community, and not their playing or vocal ability. Our objective is to reward and inspire the youth that will shape tomorrow. We look forward to the engagement and interaction with all who share our goals.
Share with us your personal story. Describe specific ways in which you have positively impacted your community and why you believe you should be chosen for the Pearl “Musicians Making A Difference” scholarship.
If selected a winner, how will this scholarship aid in your post-graduation plans? Please include your career goals, the level of impact you have had on the community, and any challenges faced. Essays should be no more than 600 words.
The Art/Music Talent Scholarship is available to incoming students committed to majoring or minoring in Art or Music. Students must apply for the award.
in addition to holding auditions in Boston, Berklee travels to more than 50 cities throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America in search of talented artists who are pursuing a college education in music, theater, or dance.
While the vast majority of awards are partial-tuition, a limited number of full-tuition awards are available to exceptionally qualified applicants.
Talented incoming singers to Lehigh of any major are eligible to apply for the Cutler- Sametz Choral Arts Scholarship program, which totals $10,000-$20,000 over four years and voice lessons. This four-year scholarships named in honor of Robert B. Cutler, director of the Lehigh Glee Club from 1954-1979, and Steven P. Sametz, Director of Lehigh Choral Arts from 1979 to the present. This is a merit-based scholarship, including a stipend and voice lessons. Choral Arts Scholars sing in University Choir during their time at Lehigh. Choral Arts Scholars also participate in the Glee Club, Dolce, or the Choral Union for at least four semesters. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider’s website..
Two $2,500 per year scholarships will be awarded to qualified new freshman or transfer students who have been admitted into one the following areas in the humanities: Art History, Fine and Performing Arts majors, Classical Studies, Dance, English and Creative Writing, Fine and Performing Arts majors, French, History, Italian, Latin, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Spanish, Theatre, Theology and Visual Commnications. Prospective candidates must have a minimum 3.8 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale and be admitted prior to February 1, 2022. Scholarship application are available on the student’s application portal. The Martin J. Svaglic Humanities Scholarship application is due March 1st. If you have questions about this award please contact the Undergraduate Admission Office at 800-262-2373 or [email protected].
The Bob and Evie Florence Memorial Scholarship Fund is available for high school seniors and current undergraduate students in Ventura County or Los Angeles County who are majoring in or planning to major in music.
The Berenice Barnard Music Education Scholarship Fund is available for graduating high school seniors in Ojai or the city of Ventura who are planning to major in music in college.
High school seniors and current undergraduate and graduate students who are planning to major or are majoring in the performing arts are eligible for this award. Students must be national members of JACL.
