University of Illinois

Music Programs at University of Illinois

This school appears in our ranking of the 10 Best University Jazz Programs. The College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois offers a number of music degree programs. One of its more popular programs allows students to earn an FAA degree in Jazz Performance. It’s designed for those who want to perform in front of crowds and live audiences. This program has a large core that features courses on music theory and jazz studies. The jazz studies courses that students take can include:

• Jazz Keyboard Studies
• Jazz Composition
• Jazz Arranging

Students must also participate in recitals in both their junior and senior years. Many of the music programs available through U of I allow students to earn FAA degrees, too. Its music composition theory program teaches students the basics of composing their own work. They use theories from history as they work. The music vocal performance program is for students who want to hone their vocal skills. This program requires that students do performances each year. The university also offers a music open studies program that allows students to study different subjects, sing and play instruments. This college also offers a Bachelor of Music Education program for students who want to use their music skills as they teach and educate others. Students take at least 42 credits of general education courses. These count towards the 130 credits they need to complete to graduate. It also includes 48 credits of music courses such as:

• Introduction to World Music
• Music Theory and Practice
• The History of Music

Students will also take at least 10 education and teaching classes, including:

• Social Foundations of Music Education
• Elements of Conducting
• Assessment and Evaluation in Music Education

About University of Illinois

The University of Illinois is just one of the names given to the university with the official name of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This school also goes by the names of U of I and Illinois. It was founded in 1867 as the Illinois Industrial University. It became the University of Illinois less than two decades after opening. It accepts more than half of the students who apply every year. It looks at factors like:

• test scores
• grade point averages
• experience

U of I also has its own distance education program for students who live far away from its Urbana-Champaign campus. It partnered with a tech company in 2015 to expand into graduate programs for online students. Washington Monthly, Forbes and U.S. News & World Report are just some of the publications that rank U of I in the top 100 of colleges in the United States. It also ranks as:

• one of the best colleges in the world,
• one of the top party schools in America
• one of the more affordable colleges

U of I has an enrollment of more than 45,000 students in all the programs offered on its main campus. It’s the largest public university in Illinois.

University of Illinois Accreditation Details

U of I has the regional accreditation required for those using the FAFSA and federal financial aid to pay for college. It also has specialty accreditation from some professional organizations for the degree programs that it offers. U of I is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS). Students can use this type of accreditation to more easily transfer credits across two or more campuses. U of I specialty accreditation comes from organizations such as:

• the American Bar Association (ABA)
• Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CELPA)
• National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
• the APA

University of Illinois Application Requirements

Students applying to the University of Illinois can use one of two application systems. They can use the myllini system of the Coalition platform. The Coalition platform allows students to submit applications to several colleges without filling out each individual application. U of I has an early application deadline of November 1 and a standard deadline of December 1. Students will find out by the end of February if the university accepted their applications. In addition to the application, students need to pay an application fee of $50 or submit a fee waiver. The university asks for a standardized test score and an official high school transcript too. Those applying to one of the university’s music programs must complete a separate application for that program. They need to supply the university with an audition recording that shows them either singing or playing an instrument. Once the university decides which students have the highest skills, it will contact them and ask them to audition in person on the university’s campus. Students applying to the music programs will also need to attend an interview session. Professors ask students a series of questions to determine which ones will start classes in the fall.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition at the University of Illinois starts at around $16,000 a year. To qualify for this tuition rate, students must submit proof that:

• they are Illinois residents
• that they lived in Illinois for at least one full calendar year

The nonresident rate, which is the rate that students from other states pay, is around $32,500 a year. Students can live on the U of I campus and get both a dorm room and a meal plan for less than $12,000 a year. Students pay around $5,000 a year for textbooks and other expenses. Around 40% of all students attending U of I use student loans to cover their costs. Undergrads qualify for subsidized loans that freeze the interest usually charged on those loans until the student leaves school for a period of at least six months. A small number of students work on the university campus and take part in the federal work-study program. More than half of all U of I undergrads also receive at least one scholarship. The university awards scholarships to students who demonstrate more merit and those who have a higher need than their peers. Only those who complete and file the FAFSA will qualify for any of its scholarships. The University of Illinois will notify students of their financial aid packages in the late spring.

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