Columbia College Chicago Ranked No. 1 Music School in the World by ‘The Hollywood Reporter’
Columbia College Chicago has been named the No. 1 music school in the world in “The Hollywood Reporter’s” 2025 Top Music Schools list, marking the third time the college has earned the publication’s highest ranking.
“This honor underscores Columbia’s distinctive role as a powerhouse in media arts education and a global leader in music for film, television, gaming, and emerging media,” says Dr. Shantay N. Bolton, President and CEO, Columbia College Chicago. “It affirms that we prepare creative professionals who are ready to contribute at the highest levels of the industry.”
“The Hollywood Reporter” compiles its Top Music Schools list each year by polling members of Hollywood’s Society of Composers and Lyricists, the Composers Diversity Collective, and the music branches of both the Motion Picture Academy and Television Academy. The annual rankings spotlight institutions that are shaping the next generation of composers, recognizing programs that pair rigorous musical training with hands-on, industry-centered experience.
“Since this ranking is the result of an industry poll, it is really a reflection of the excellence and creativity of our alumni as they put into practice in their professional careers and creative work the skills and knowledge honed in our program,” says Associate Professor Kubilay Uner, who is the Director of the Music Composition for the Screen MFA program at Columbia.
In naming Columbia the top institution worldwide, “The Hollywood Reporter” emphasized the strength of this two-year graduate degree program.
“Kubi’s expertise and leadership are central to this achievement,” says Suzanne McBride, Interim Senior Vice President and Provost at Columbia. “He has helped elevate Columbia’s profile on an international stage.”
The program trains composers for film, television, video games, and emerging visual media, culminating in a five-week Semester in LA featuring industry internships and thesis recordings with a 70-piece orchestra.
“Our real-world immersion is central to the program’s impact,” saysUner.
As he told “The Hollywood Reporter:” “Every defining aspect of our program starts with one question: How is this done in professional practice?”
That approach is shared across Columbia College Chicago and its School of Audio and Music, which is also home to a Music Composition for Media BA program. In this program, Columbia helps build the foundation for emerging composers, offering rigorous training in scoring, orchestration, game audio, songwriting for media, and collaborative storytelling.
“Whether students come to Columbia as first-year undergraduates or graduate-level composers, they’re immersed in real-world practice and supported by faculty who know exactly what it takes to succeed in this industry,” says Ben Sutherland, Interim Director of Columbia’s School of Audio and Music.
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