University of Michigan

Undergrad Music Programs at the University of Michigan

This school appears in our ranking of the 10 Best University Jazz Programs 2017-2018. The University of Michigan has its own School of Music, Theatre & Dance. It offers degree programs for undergrads with an interest in music. This school offers three options for those who like playing jazz. One of these programs awards students a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Jazz & Contemplative Studies. This program helps students hone their playing and performing skills while learning more about music theory. Students can enroll in a BFA in Jazz & Contemporary Improvisation to learn how to improvise or enroll in a more traditional BFA in Jazz Studies program. Students who want to earn a Bachelor of Music can enroll in one of seven different programs. The university allows students to major in:

• composition
• music theory
• music education

Those who major in performance will pick a concentration based on the instruments they play. They can choose a major in:

• piano
• organ
• wind instruments
• voice performance

The university also has a Bachelor of Musical Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies. Students in this program take liberal arts classes in addition to performance classes. All students in these programs will also participate in musical performances on the campus. The University of Michigan offers one of the only music degree programs in the state that also helps students earn their teaching certificates at the same time. Students take liberal arts and general education classes. They also take classes from both the teaching and music departments. They’ll learn how to play and perform in front of live audiences and also how to teach others of different skills levels. Graduates of this program also meet the requirements for obtaining a Michigan teaching license because they’ll do some fieldwork. This fieldwork allows students to work with real students of different age levels.

About University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is one of the top public institutions of higher learning in the Midwest. It was founded in 1817 before Michigan became a state. The university has a large campus in Ann Arbor that consists of four locations. Ann Arbor has a reputation as a college town, and many university students live and work in the city after they graduate. Washington Monthly, ARWU, Forbes and U.S. News & World Report all rank the university in the top 50 of all schools in the United States. Some of its degree programs with a national ranking include those in:

• business
• education
• law
• medicine

Also known as UM and Michigan, the university also has a strong reputation with its sports programs and athletic organizations. It has a long rivalry with Ohio State University that brings in fans from around the world for the annual football game between the two schools. The University of Michigan is also home to one of the largest athletic stadiums in the world. It has an enrollment of more than 44,000 students.

University of Michigan Accreditation Details

The University of Michigan is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS). Accreditation allows students to transfer credits to or from the university and to apply for financial aid. They can use any of the federal or state aid given to them too. Michigan also has specialty accreditation for many of its degree programs. The National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) accredited all its music programs.

University of Michigan Application Requirements

Michigan is one of the most selective institutes of higher learning in the Midwest. It accepts less than 30% of the applications that it gets every year. Unlike other colleges that allow students to submit a general application, Michigan requires that students choose their majors ahead of time. They must apply to the department or college responsible for that program. Students can use either the Coalition Application or the Common Application. Both applications allow students to submit their information to multiple schools. The university also charges a $75 application fee that students must pay when they submit their applications. The early action deadline set by the university is November 1, but students applying for regular admission have until February 1 to submit their applications. They must ensure that the university receives all other required information and documents by its deadline. Michigan asks for a high school transcript that shows:

• class ranking
• cumulative grade point average
• the grades the student received in his or her last few years

Students will also need to submit either a school report or a counselor recommendation and an official ACT or SAT score. Michigan requires that students who attended any other college submit transcripts from those schools. Students applying for any performance or music program will need to submit a video audition to the university. The university may ask that those students come in for an in-person audition on the campus. They also might ask that those students interview with a professor working in that program.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Students taking classes at Michigan pay one rate in their first two years and a slightly higher rate in their later years as they take more advanced classes. Tuition at the university starts at $7,452 per semester for Michigan residents. It’s  $23,889 for nonresidents. Students can take up to 18 credit hours each semester without having any extra fees. The cost increases once students take at least 54 credits. They then pay $8,476 as residents and $25,554 as nonresidents. The university also offers a set rate for part-time students that charges them one rate for the first credit hour they take and a second rate for each additional credit hour. New undergrads applying to the university can use the FAFSA and find out if the university will give them any financial aid for the coming year. They’ll also learn how much they will get and the type of aid given to them. The university has a Go Blue Guarantee that helps students avoid unexpected tuition hikes in the future. Students qualify for this program based on the amount they or their families make and the number of assets they have. Those who fill out the FAFSA may qualify for grants and loans from the government and scholarships from the University of Michigan itself.

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