Music Degree Return on Investment

Select an institution that offers degrees in Music and see the return on investment for jobs in that field.

Abilene Christian University Academy of Art University Adelphi University Alabama A & M University Alabama State University Albion College Albright College Amherst College Arizona State University – Tempe Arizona Western College Arkansas State University – Main Campus Arkansas Tech University Assumption College Auburn University Augustana College Augustana University Austin Peay State University Azusa Pacific University Baldwin Wallace University Ball State University Barnard College Baylor University Belhaven University Bellarmine University Belmont University Benedict College Benedictine College Bennington College Berea College Berklee College of Music Berry College Bethany Lutheran College Bethune – Cookman University Biola University Birmingham Southern College Black Hills State University Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Boise State University Bossier Parish Community College Boston College Boston University Bowdoin College Bowling Green State University – Main Campus Bradley University Brandeis University Bridgewater State University Brigham Young University – Hawaii Brigham Young University – Provo Brown University Bryan College – Dayton Bunker Hill Community College Butler University California Baptist University California Institute of the Arts California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo California State Polytechnic University – Pomona California State University – Bakersfield California State University – Chico California State University – Dominguez Hills California State University – East Bay California State University – Fresno California State University – Fullerton California State University – Long Beach California State University – Los Angeles California State University – Monterey Bay California State University – Northridge California State University – Sacramento California State University – San Bernardino California State University – San Marcos California State University – Stanislaus Carl Albert State College Carleton College Carthage College Case Western Reserve University Central Baptist College Central Connecticut State University Central Methodist University – College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Central Michigan University Central Washington University Chapman University Chestnut Hill College Coastal Carolina University Coe College Colby College College of Charleston College of Saint Benedict College of Southern Nevada College of Staten Island CUNY College of the Sequoias College of William and Mary Collin County Community College District Colorado Christian University Colorado College Colorado Mesa University Colorado State University – Fort Collins Colorado State University – Pueblo Columbia College – Chicago Columbus State University Concordia University – Irvine Concordia University – Nebraska Concordia University – Portland Concordia University – Saint Paul Concordia University – Texas Concordia University – Wisconsin Connecticut College Corban University Cornell College Cornell University Cornerstone University Cosumnes River College Covenant College Crafton Hills College Culver – Stockton College CUNY Bernard M Baruch College CUNY Brooklyn College CUNY City College CUNY Lehman College CUNY York College Cuyamaca College Dartmouth College Davidson College Delaware State University Denison University DePaul University DePauw University Dixie State University Drake University Duquesne University Earlham College East Carolina University Eastern Connecticut State University Eastern Kentucky University Eastern Mennonite University Elizabethtown College Elmhurst College Emory University Fairfield University Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Florida Atlantic University Florida International University Florida Memorial University Florida Southern College Florida State University Fordham University Fort Hays State University Fort Lewis College Freed – Hardeman University Fresno City College Fresno Pacific University George Fox University George Mason University George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Southern University Georgia Southwestern State University Grace Bible College Grand Canyon University Grand Valley State University Grinnell College Guilford College Gustavus Adolphus College Hamilton College Hamline University Hampshire College Hardin – Simmons University Harding University Hartwick College Harvard University Hill College Hobart William Smith Colleges Houston Baptist University Howard University Humboldt State University Huntingdon College Illinois State University Illinois Wesleyan University Immaculata University Indiana University – Bloomington Indiana University – Purdue University – Fort Wayne Indiana University – South Bend Indiana University – Southeast Indiana University of Pennsylvania – Main Campus Iowa State University Ithaca College Jacksonville State University Jacksonville University Jamestown Community College John Brown University Johns Hopkins University Johnson C Smith University Kalamazoo College Kansas State University Kent State University at Kent Knox College Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Laramie County Community College Lawrence University Lehigh University Lewis University Liberty University Linn – Benton Community College Lipscomb University Lock Haven University Lone Star College System Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Louisiana Tech University Loyola Marymount University Loyola University Chicago Loyola University New Orleans Luther College Macalester College Manhattanville College Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Mars Hill University Massachusetts Institute of Technology McDaniel College McKendree University McMurry University Mercer University Mercyhurst University Miami University – Oxford Michigan State University Mid – America Christian University Middle Tennessee State University Middlebury College Midwestern State University Millersville University of Pennsylvania Minnesota State University – Mankato Minnesota State University Moorhead MiraCosta College Mississippi College Mississippi State University Missouri Baptist University Missouri State University – Springfield Missouri Western State University Molloy College Monmouth University Montana State University Montclair State University Moraine Valley Community College Moravian College Morehead State University Morehouse College Morgan State University Morningside College Mount Saint Joseph University Mt San Antonio College Mt San Jacinto Community College District Muhlenberg College Nazareth College Nebraska Wesleyan University New York University North Carolina A & T State University North Carolina Central University North Central College North Dakota State University – Main Campus Northeast Mississippi Community College Northeastern Illinois University Northeastern State University Northeastern University Northern Arizona University Northern Illinois University Northern Kentucky University Northern Michigan University Northern New Mexico College Northern Oklahoma College Northern State University Northwest Missouri State University Northwestern University Nova Southeastern University Nyack College Oberlin College Occidental College Ohio Northern University Ohio State University – Main Campus Ohio Wesleyan University Oklahoma Baptist University Oklahoma City Community College Oklahoma State University – Main Campus Olivet Nazarene University Oral Roberts University Oregon State University Ouachita Baptist University Pacific Lutheran University Palm Beach Atlantic University Pepperdine University Plymouth State University Point Loma Nazarene University Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico – Ponce Portland State University Prairie View A & M University Presbyterian College Princeton University Providence College Queens University of Charlotte Randolph – Macon College Regis University Reinhardt University Roberts Wesleyan College Rollins College Rowan University Rutgers University – Camden Rutgers University – New Brunswick Rutgers University – Newark Sacramento City College Saint Ambrose University Saint Cloud State University Saint Johns University Saint Joseph’s University Saint Louis University Saint Mary’s College of California Saint Mary’s College Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Saint Michael’s College Saint Norbert College Salem College Salem State University Salisbury University Salt Lake Community College Salve Regina University Sam Houston State University Samford University San Diego State University San Francisco State University San Jacinto Community College San Joaquin Delta College San Jose State University Santa Ana College Santa Clara University Seattle Pacific University Seton Hill University Shepherd University Sheridan College Smith College Snow College South Dakota State University South Texas College Southeast Missouri State University Southeastern Oklahoma State University Southeastern University Southern Adventist University Southern Connecticut State University Southern Illinois University – Carbondale Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville Southern Methodist University Southern Nazarene University Southern Oregon University Southern Utah University Southwest Baptist University Southwestern Assemblies of God University Southwestern Oklahoma State University Spring Arbor University St Lawrence University St Mary’s College of Maryland Stanford University Stephen F Austin State University Stony Brook University SUNY at Albany SUNY at Binghamton SUNY at Purchase College Susquehanna University Swarthmore College Sweet Briar College Syracuse University Tarleton State University Taylor University Temple University Tennessee Technological University Texas Christian University Texas State University Texas Tech University Texas Wesleyan University Texas Woman’s University The College of New Jersey The College of Saint Rose The Master’s College and Seminary The University of Alabama The University of Montana Towson University Trevecca Nazarene University Trinity College Truman State University Tufts University Union College Union University University at Buffalo University of Alabama at Birmingham University of Alabama in Huntsville University of Alaska Fairbanks University of Arizona University of Arkansas – Fort Smith University of Bridgeport University of California – Berkeley University of California – Davis University of California – Irvine University of California – Los Angeles University of California – Riverside University of California – San Diego University of California – Santa Barbara University of Central Arkansas University of Central Florida University of Central Missouri University of Central Oklahoma University of Chicago University of Cincinnati – Main Campus University of Colorado Boulder University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus University of Connecticut University of Dayton University of Delaware University of Denver University of Evansville University of Florida University of Georgia University of Hartford University of Hawaii at Hilo University of Hawaii at Manoa University of Houston University of Illinois at Chicago University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign University of Indianapolis University of Iowa University of Kansas University of Kentucky University of Louisiana at Lafayette University of Louisville University of Maine at Augusta University of Mary Hardin – Baylor University of Maryland – Baltimore County University of Maryland – College Park University of Massachusetts – Amherst University of Massachusetts – Boston University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth University of Massachusetts – Lowell University of Memphis University of Miami University of Michigan – Ann Arbor University of Michigan – Flint University of Minnesota – Morris University of Minnesota – Twin Cities University of Mississippi University of Missouri – Columbia University of Missouri – Kansas City University of Missouri – St Louis University of Nebraska – Lincoln University of Nebraska at Kearney University of Nebraska at Omaha University of Nevada – Las Vegas University of Nevada – Reno University of New Hampshire – Main Campus University of New Haven University of New Orleans University of North Alabama University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Charlotte University of North Carolina at Greensboro University of North Carolina at Pembroke University of North Carolina Wilmington University of North Dakota University of North Texas University of Northern Colorado University of Northern Iowa University of Northwestern – St Paul University of Notre Dame University of Oklahoma – Norman Campus University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh Campus University of Richmond University of Rochester University of South Alabama University of South Carolina – Columbia University of South Carolina – Upstate University of South Dakota University of South Florida – Main Campus University of Southern California University of Southern Maine University of Southern Mississippi University of St Thomas University of the Cumberlands University of the Incarnate Word University of the Pacific University of Tulsa University of Utah University of Vermont University of Virginia – Main Campus University of Washington – Seattle Campus University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire University of Wisconsin – La Crosse University of Wisconsin – Madison University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee University of Wisconsin – Platteville University of Wisconsin – Whitewater University of Wyoming Utah Valley University Valparaiso University Vanderbilt University Vanguard University of Southern California Vassar College Viterbo University Washington State University Washington University in St Louis Wayland Baptist University Wayne State College Wayne State University Weber State University Wesleyan University West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Texas A & M University West Virginia University West Virginia Wesleyan College Western Carolina University Western Connecticut State University Western Illinois University Western Kentucky University Western Michigan University Western Oregon University Western State Colorado University Western Washington University Westminster College Wheaton College William Paterson University of New Jersey Williams College Winston – Salem State University Wittenberg University Wright State University – Main Campus Xavier University of Louisiana Xavier University Yale University York College Pennsylvania Young Harris College

Choosing to pursue a music degree can be both a passionate and practical decision, but how does it stack up in terms of return on investment (ROI)? Understanding the ROI of a music degree involves evaluating factors such as potential earnings, job opportunities, and personal fulfillment.

Many graduates with music degrees report entering diverse fields, with career paths ranging from performance and composition to music education, production, and entertainment management. The adaptability of a music degree can open doors to roles in teaching, conducting, sound engineering, and even roles in digital media and technology.

Statistically, while the starting salaries for music graduates may not always match those of students in fields like engineering or business, the potential for growth is significant. Experienced music professionals can see their earnings increase substantially, especially if they carve out a niche or attain recognition in their field. Moreover, many musicians supplement their income through teaching, gigs, and freelance work, further enhancing their overall financial outlook.

Investing in a music degree also offers intangible benefits that can enhance one’s quality of life and career satisfaction. Skills developed during music studies, such as discipline, creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking, are highly valued across many industries. These transferable skills can broaden career options well beyond traditional music roles, giving graduates an edge in the competitive job market.

In addition to financial ROI, consider the personal satisfaction and fulfillment that comes from pursuing a passion. A music degree allows individuals to engage deeply with their art, connect with others who share their interests, and contribute to community and culture through their work. The joy of creating and sharing music can often outweigh the monetary considerations for many individuals.

Ultimately, the return on investment of a music degree is multifaceted. While financial outcomes may vary, the personal growth and diverse career options it provides make it a worthwhile pursuit for many. If you’re considering a music degree, weigh both the tangible and intangible benefits as you explore your future in this vibrant field.

As you navigate your options, remember to research specific programs, their partnerships with industry players, and opportunities for internships or hands-on experiences that can enhance both your education and future earning potential. Understanding the music landscape and developing a network within the industry will also contribute positively to your career trajectory, ultimately maximizing your return on investment.

Disclaimer: The information provided is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Student loan situations can vary significantly based on individual circumstances, and decisions around deferment or forbearance can have lasting financial impacts. Before making any changes to your loan repayment plan, consult a qualified financial advisor or your loan servicer to understand the best options for your unique situation.

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