Music: bachelor's degree earnings by college

Median earnings of music graduates (bachelor's degree) one year after graduation, at 220 colleges. National median: $34,526, rising to $43,388 after four years.

#CollegeStateEarnings after 1 yrAfter 4 yrsMedian debt
1The University of Texas at El PasoTX$59,229$60,172$17,334
2Sam Houston State UniversityTX$58,677$58,743$24,246
3University of FloridaFL$56,011$61,446$13,725
4The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyTX$54,156$59,218$13,956
5Texas A&M University-KingsvilleTX$53,380$57,117$31,000
6Old Dominion UniversityVA$53,029$52,028—
7Stephen F Austin State UniversityTX$52,588$52,341$25,034
8Texas Tech UniversityTX$52,432$57,043$26,979
9Texas State UniversityTX$51,924$52,320$21,905
10James Madison UniversityVA$51,664$51,882$19,700
11Moravian UniversityPA$50,856$41,962$27,000
12East Texas A&M UniversityTX$50,443$55,438$23,209
13University of California-BerkeleyCA$49,985—$8,141
14Boston UniversityMA$49,329$39,426$23,985
15Northeastern UniversityMA$48,272$60,974$18,500
16Northeastern University Professional ProgramsMA$48,272$60,974$18,500
17The University of Texas at ArlingtonTX$47,751$59,198$18,202
18Northwestern UniversityIL$47,390$53,875$19,500
19University of New Hampshire-Main CampusNH$46,733$47,448$27,000
20Lamar UniversityTX$46,653$53,904—
21Eastern New Mexico University-Main CampusNM$45,589$51,953—
22University of West GeorgiaGA$45,013——
23Michigan State UniversityMI$44,788$52,132$23,750
24University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireWI$44,633$47,079$19,370
25The University of Texas at AustinTX$44,568$47,164$23,200
26Luther CollegeIA$44,426$50,947$27,000
27George Mason UniversityVA$44,344$46,765$25,125
28University of South Carolina-ColumbiaSC$44,297$45,181$21,000
29Lebanon Valley CollegePA$44,270$54,235$24,250
30University of IowaIA$43,865$50,180$25,250
31University of Nevada-Las VegasNV$43,734$55,161$16,429
32University of North TexasTX$43,561$55,705$21,399
33University of North Carolina at CharlotteNC$43,488$49,761$27,839
34Grand Valley State UniversityMI$43,397$49,111$24,750
35University of UtahUT$43,255$49,240$18,852
36Morgan State UniversityMD$42,724$34,725—
37Brown UniversityRI$42,515——
38North Dakota State University-Main CampusND$42,381$45,578$29,000
39Indiana University of PennsylvaniaPA$42,314$48,630$27,000
40Montana State UniversityMT$42,292$39,920—
41Illinois State UniversityIL$42,272$54,767$19,941
42University of Rhode IslandRI$42,270$52,346—
43Tennessee Technological UniversityTN$42,206$46,253$19,250
44University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOK$41,653$45,781$20,617
45Colorado State University-Fort CollinsCO$41,459$39,414$21,457
46Muhlenberg CollegePA$41,377—$27,000
47Radford UniversityVA$41,278$47,586$21,891
48Biola UniversityCA$41,268$50,781$20,250
49University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWI$41,173$45,306$26,539
50Wayne State UniversityMI$40,637$50,340$18,095
51Colorado State University PuebloCO$40,613$40,386—
52Western Illinois UniversityIL$40,566$39,609$21,500
53Indiana State UniversityIN$40,365$49,711$24,437
54West Texas A & M UniversityTX$40,324$48,656$19,863
55Washington State UniversityWA$40,277$41,181—
56Tarleton State UniversityTX$40,272$56,671$22,140
57Rutgers University-CamdenNJ$40,187$56,008$21,750
58Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJ$40,187$56,008$21,750
59Rutgers University-NewarkNJ$40,187$56,008$21,750
60University of KentuckyKY$39,963$39,746$19,400
61Sonoma State UniversityCA$39,731$65,533—
62Western Carolina UniversityNC$39,595$44,014$27,750
63West Chester University of PennsylvaniaPA$39,511—$26,000
64Northern Illinois UniversityIL$39,404$40,398$22,498
65University of Nebraska at OmahaNE$39,137$42,768$21,793
66New York UniversityNY$39,043$52,841$21,875
67Eastern Illinois UniversityIL$38,553$49,236$21,419
68University of Massachusetts-LowellMA$38,279$53,384$27,000
69Millersville University of PennsylvaniaPA$38,252$40,713$22,250
70University of California-RiversideCA$38,187$33,292$20,035
71Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ$37,949$41,610$17,500
72St Olaf CollegeMN$37,924$42,439$27,000
73Liberty UniversityVA$37,764$42,960$25,000
74Middle Tennessee State UniversityTN$37,737$43,999$17,759
75Texas Woman's UniversityTX$37,532$56,884$21,132
76New Jersey City UniversityNJ$37,464$35,729$24,547
77Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaPA$37,363$42,481$27,000
78Fordham UniversityNY$37,311——
79Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVA$37,008$38,278$25,502
80San Francisco State UniversityCA$36,891$38,639$18,812
81University of ArizonaAZ$36,662$40,922$16,509
82Concordia University-IrvineCA$36,573——
83Austin Peay State UniversityTN$36,520$45,100$15,556
84Rowan UniversityNJ$36,284$47,208$21,500
85Ohio University-Eastern CampusOH$36,209$44,593$26,796
86Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusOH$36,209$44,593$26,796
87Ohio University-Southern CampusOH$36,209$44,593$26,796
88Ohio University-Lancaster CampusOH$36,209$44,593$26,796
89Ohio University-Main CampusOH$36,209$44,593$26,796
90Ohio University-Zanesville CampusOH$36,209$44,593$26,796
91University of Akron Main CampusOH$36,127$48,030—
92University of Central ArkansasAR$35,612$46,446—
93Northern Arizona UniversityAZ$35,545$43,792—
94Eastern Kentucky UniversityKY$35,510$37,673$23,000
95SUNY College at PotsdamNY$35,497$36,677$25,000
96University of Puget SoundWA$35,490$41,207—
97University of Missouri-ColumbiaMO$35,423$39,241$14,595
98Boise State UniversityID$35,412—$22,680
99Towson UniversityMD$35,385$36,285$17,500
100Western Washington UniversityWA$35,348$38,858—
101Montclair State UniversityNJ$35,299$50,418$21,500
102Webster UniversityMO$35,274$36,167—
103Purdue University Fort WayneIN$35,188$38,682$23,183
104Snow CollegeUT$35,081$33,705$20,927
105Western Kentucky UniversityKY$35,078$38,377$26,000
106Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLA$34,930$47,521$15,000
107Florida State UniversityFL$34,778$44,454$18,350
108University of Michigan-Ann ArborMI$34,723$43,777$20,500
109Indiana University-BloomingtonIN$34,546$28,727$19,500
110Morehead State UniversityKY$34,526$40,768$22,791
111California State University-ChicoCA$34,293$42,269$10,673
112Jacksonville State UniversityAL$34,264$47,582$27,000
113Lawrence UniversityWI$34,245$43,385$27,000
114Kent State University at StarkOH$34,179$43,222$25,000
115Kent State University at KentOH$34,179$43,222$25,000
116The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleTN$33,994$46,701$25,630
117Murray State UniversityKY$33,884$36,697$26,102
118Duquesne UniversityPA$33,821$46,217$27,000
119California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCA$33,778$44,910$16,263
120University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyMD$33,769$42,289$21,227
121Baldwin Wallace UniversityOH$33,747$37,682$27,000
122Lee UniversityTN$33,373$35,702$27,000
123Oregon State UniversityOR$33,307$41,073$21,500
124Oregon State University-Cascades CampusOR$33,307$41,073$21,500
125Cleveland State UniversityOH$33,303$29,842—
126Full Sail UniversityFL$33,026$39,466$27,084
127CUNY Hunter CollegeNY$32,755$39,600—
128West Virginia UniversityWV$32,639$48,226$24,250
129University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusCO$32,325$46,532$16,472
130University of MemphisTN$32,249$45,321$13,531
131University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWI$32,201$37,616$20,924
132The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaTN$32,200——
133SUNY at FredoniaNY$32,177$45,794$26,249
134Butler UniversityIN$32,095——
135Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPA$32,085$44,241$26,081
136Georgia State UniversityGA$32,015$35,963$25,500
137Western Connecticut State UniversityCT$31,916$35,889$24,997
138University of Southern CaliforniaCA$31,854$34,124$16,649
139University of GeorgiaGA$31,821$43,628$19,705
140University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMN$31,772$42,232$20,500
141University of Massachusetts-BostonMA$31,560——
142Temple UniversityPA$31,470$40,387$27,000
143Western Michigan UniversityMI$31,341$36,254$27,000
144Rollins CollegeFL$31,242$45,910$19,500
145Jacksonville UniversityFL$31,225$40,009—
146The University of Texas at San AntonioTX$31,059$53,878$26,000
147Los Angeles Film SchoolCA$31,013—$46,476
148The University of AlabamaAL$31,012$31,666$19,700
149University of Missouri-Kansas CityMO$30,705$42,708$23,000
150University of Colorado BoulderCO$30,084$38,701$13,079
151University of ArkansasAR$29,965$46,352$27,000
152University of Louisiana at LafayetteLA$29,678$29,175$28,283
153Rider UniversityNJ$29,631$43,753$27,000
154University of Central FloridaFL$29,518$39,898$11,125
155University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL$29,508$50,544$19,376
156East Tennessee State UniversityTN$29,492$35,707$21,500
157William Paterson University of New JerseyNJ$29,407$39,553$18,500
158University of California-Los AngelesCA$29,315$47,779$13,000
159University of Central OklahomaOK$28,923$42,355$22,000
160California State University-NorthridgeCA$28,903$40,669$14,000
161Capital UniversityOH$28,878$43,125$27,000
162Azusa Pacific UniversityCA$28,836——
163Metropolitan State University of DenverCO$28,836$38,957$23,721
164Monmouth UniversityNJ$28,818$55,526$26,000
165Valley City State UniversityND$28,674——
166Catawba CollegeNC$28,523$39,633—
167University of TulsaOK$28,458$46,662—
168Utah State UniversityUT$27,741$44,898—
169University of HartfordCT$27,670$43,700$27,000
170Florida International UniversityFL$27,596$50,677$12,250
171Wheaton CollegeIL$27,565$40,329$27,000
172Millikin UniversityIL$27,539$43,388$21,333
173Brigham Young UniversityUT$27,458$29,483$10,500
174California State University-Los AngelesCA$27,448$39,120$22,016
175Belmont UniversityTN$27,430$36,866$21,886
176Chapman UniversityCA$27,373$41,698$23,500
177Stevens Institute of TechnologyNJ$27,281$61,943$27,000
178University of OregonOR$27,212$39,928$20,500
179The Catholic University of AmericaDC$27,163$46,123$27,000
180University of New HavenCT$27,115$47,057$27,000
181University of North Carolina AshevilleNC$27,063$37,484$22,940
182Five Towns CollegeNY$26,919$36,157$25,283
183University of Wisconsin-MadisonWI$26,871——
184Brigham Young University-IdahoID$26,663$31,914—
185Oklahoma City UniversityOK$26,090$35,621$23,875
186Visible Music CollegeTN$26,001$33,690$26,500
187University of California-San DiegoCA$25,949$58,071$17,000
188Johns Hopkins UniversityMD$25,851$29,849$20,500
189San Diego State UniversityCA$25,783$42,090$19,587
190Berklee College of MusicMA$25,558$38,617$23,750
191Ramapo College of New JerseyNJ$25,547$41,659$22,484
192CUNY City CollegeNY$25,416$44,058—
193Columbia College ChicagoIL$25,208$40,734$24,562
194California State University-FullertonCA$25,043$39,590$25,429
195Salisbury UniversityMD$24,767——
196Trevecca Nazarene UniversityTN$24,759——
197Southern Oregon UniversityOR$24,121$36,201—
198State University of New York at OswegoNY$23,958$41,122$24,193
199DePaul UniversityIL$23,574$44,756$21,500
200Baylor UniversityTX$23,360$40,017$19,250
201Elmhurst UniversityIL$23,348$32,448—
202California State University-Long BeachCA$23,094$47,831$18,010
203SUNY at Purchase CollegeNY$23,001$41,926$19,239
204Los Angeles College of MusicCA$22,957—$31,000
205The New England Conservatory of MusicMA$22,827$26,985$23,500
206Oberlin CollegeOH$22,671$43,343$27,000
207University of North Carolina at GreensboroNC$22,413$40,778$23,902
208California Institute of the ArtsCA$22,071$40,294$26,000
209Lipscomb UniversityTN$21,700——
210University of Cincinnati-Main CampusOH$21,514—$19,787
211University of Nevada-RenoNV$21,172$23,791—
212Mercy UniversityNY$20,606$45,594—
213University of MiamiFL$19,843$29,090$14,125
214Vanderbilt UniversityTN$19,017$59,217$8,207
215University of RochesterNY$18,388$34,888$27,000
216Kennesaw State UniversityGA$16,870$32,871$26,210
217Manhattan School of MusicNY$16,652$27,952$27,000
218Cleveland Institute of MusicOH$13,093$37,656$19,500
219Inter American University of Puerto Rico-MetroPR$10,235$14,803—
220Puerto Rico Conservatory of MusicPR$9,289$29,940$7,000

Earnings are median annual earnings of graduates who received federal financial aid, measured by the U.S. Department of Education. Colleges with too few graduates are not shown.

Frequently asked questions

How much do music graduates earn?

The median college reports $34,526 in earnings one year after a bachelor's degree in music and $43,388 four years after. The highest is $59,229 at The University of Texas at El Paso.

How much student debt do music graduates have?

The median federal loan debt for this degree is about $23,209 at the typical college.