Writer's Room - September 2026

Bluegrass Goes To College

It’s been said that the perfect college setting would be a good teacher on one end of a log and a student on the other.

These days, it might take a Paul Bunyan-sized log to make room for the student union, rec center, stadium, and other “necessities” on almost any campus.

But that nostalgic image does make a point. Beyond all the amenities of college life, learning really comes from the interaction of knowledgeable and caring teachers and talented and motivated students. Great teaching inspires not just a semester of classroom performance, but a commitment to life-long learning.

Fortunately, that kind of education is available through practical college and university programs in Bluegrass, Old Time and Roots Music, and music business and performance.

National & International Opportunities

Nearly 50 American colleges and universities from 19 states—as well as three nations beyond our borders—provide options from full academic degrees to certificate programs and individual courses. Some host Bluegrass bands and ensembles, while others help students gain experience in songwriting, audio engineering, recording and broadcasting, and management and marketing.

The Foundation of the International Bluegrass Music Association maintains a database of schools that offer Bluegrass degree programs, music groups, courses, and/or academic research opportunities. I’ve put these colleges and universities into a state-by-state list that you’ll find at the end of the column.

To encourage talented young people to continue their professional development, IBMA members have started scholarship and financial aid programs. Many of these initiatives also honor leaders in the Bluegrass community—men and women whose accomplishments inspire all of us.

 Examples include the Mike Auldridge Memorial Scholarship; Terry Baucom Education Grant; Gloria Belle Memorial Scholarship; J.D. Crowe Banjo Scholarship; Katy Daley Broadcast Media/Sound Engineering Scholarship; Sally Ann Forrester Scholarship; Rick Lang Music Songwriter Scholarship; and, IBMA Bluegrass College Scholarship.

World of Bluegrass Support

At this year’s World of Bluegrass, coming up October 20-24 in Chattanooga, students will find several special events and opportunities. The College Band Showcase gives groups of young people a chance to entertain and sharpen their performance skills before an appreciative audience. 

Student jam sessions and networking receptions also will be part of the event in Chattanooga, and prospective students and their parents can join in information sessions to learn more about opportunities in higher education. Speaking of networking, faculty members also can share ideas at an educator’s luncheon.

Students in college and university Bluegrass and music business programs can get their first year of IBMA membership free. After that, they can still enjoy discounted memberships while they’re enrolled.

College-Level Studies 

Here’s that list of college-level studies in Bluegrass and music business. Go to bluegrassfoundation.org for the full spreadsheet that includes types of programs and school websites (or, in some cases, contact information for faculty members at those schools).

The database is regularly updated, so schools that want to be added can do so by getting in touch with the IBMA Foundation.

Alabama

University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL)

California

Concordia University-Irvine (Irvine, CA) 

Pomona College (Claremont, CA), 

Colorado

Colorado College (Colorado Springs, CO) 

Georgia

University of North Georgia (Dahlonega, GA) 

Indiana

St. Meinrad School of Theology (St. Meinrad, IN) 

Iowa

University of Iowa (Iowa City, IO)

Kentucky

Berea College (Berea, KY)

Eastern Kentucky University (Richmond, KY)

Kentucky School of Bluegrass & Traditional Music (Hyden, KY)

Morehead State University (Morehead, KY)

Owensboro Community and Technical College (Owensboro, KY)

University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)

University of Louisville (Louisville, KY)

Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green, KY)

Louisiana

University of Louisiana at Lafayette (Lafayette, LA)

Massachusetts

Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) 

New York

Sarah Lawrence College (Bronxville, NY)

State University of New York-Plattsburgh, NY (Plattsburgh, NY)

North Carolina

Appalachian State University (Boone, NC)

Guliford Technical Community College, (Jamestown, NC)

University of North Carolina at Asheville, (Asheville, NC)

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, (Chapel Hill, NC)

Warren Wilson College (Asheville, NC)

Ohio

Denison University (Granville, OH)

Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)

Oregon

University of Oregon (Eugene, OR)

South Carolina

Clemson University (Clemson, SC)

North Greenville University (Tigerville, SC)

Tennessee

Belmont University (Nashville, TN)

Bethel University (McKenzie, TN)

East Tennessee State University (Johnson City, TN)

Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro, TN)

Pellissippi State Community College (Knoxville, TN)

Roane State Community College (Harriman & Oak Ridge, TN)

Tennessee Tech University (Cookeville, TN)

Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)

Volunteer State Community College (Gallatin, TN)

Walters State Community College (Morristown, TN)

Texas

South Plains College (Levelland, TX)

University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX)

Virginia

Virginia Tech University (Blacksburg, VA)

University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)

Washington

Shoreline College (Shoreline, WA)

Wisconsin

Lawrence University (Appleton, WI)

International Higher Education

Canada

Memorial University of Newfoundland (St. John’s, NL)

Japan

Nagoya University (Nagoya, Japan)

Uganda

Makerere University (Kampala, Uganda)