One dot per program. Anything above the dashed line leaves graduates owing more in federal loans than they earn in a year. The spread inside a single field is wider than the gap between fields — which is why picking the program matters more than picking the subject.
Median graduate debt against median graduate earnings, Audio and Music Production Dashed line: debt equals one year of earnings
$0 $20k $40k $60k $80k $100k $120k $0 $40k $80k New York Institute of Technology — Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician, Master’s degree. Debt $46,701, earnings $79,258. Central Washington University — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $14,817, earnings $79,115. Messiah University — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $21,472, earnings $77,342. American University — Recording Arts Technology/Technician, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $19,085, earnings $75,461. CUNY Brooklyn College — Music Theory and Composition, Master’s degree. Debt $40,642, earnings $63,685. University of Southern California — Music Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $20,353, earnings $63,353. Michigan State University — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $30,158, earnings $62,193. Stevens Institute of Technology — Music Technology, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $61,943. Syracuse University — Music Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $61,819. Northeastern University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,500, earnings $60,974. Northeastern University Professional Programs — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,500, earnings $60,974. California State University-Northridge — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $41,000, earnings $60,697. The University of Texas at El Paso — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $14,894, earnings $60,172. Berklee College of Music — Music Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,543, earnings $59,703. Stephen F Austin State University — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $33,236, earnings $59,471. University of Redlands — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $59,275. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $15,175, earnings $59,218. Vanderbilt University — Stringed Instruments, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $21,500, earnings $59,217. The University of Texas at Arlington — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $22,714, earnings $59,198. Drexel University — Music Management, Master’s degree. Debt $36,850, earnings $59,030. Sam Houston State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,630, earnings $58,743. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $18,007, earnings $58,127. University of California-San Diego — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $19,500, earnings $58,071. Colorado State University-Fort Collins — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $40,506, earnings $57,772. SUNY at Fredonia — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $23,582, earnings $57,662. Texas A & M University-Kingsville — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $31,000, earnings $57,117. University of Memphis — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $24,597, earnings $57,099. Texas Tech University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $57,043. Texas Woman's University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $22,137, earnings $56,884. Hofstra University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,500, earnings $56,847. Bowie State University — Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $22,750, earnings $56,818. Tarleton State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,200, earnings $56,671. University of Houston — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,000, earnings $56,667. University of Miami — Music Management, Master’s degree. Debt $58,302, earnings $56,106. University of Connecticut — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $24,148, earnings $56,104. Rutgers University-Camden — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,492, earnings $56,008. Rutgers University-New Brunswick — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,492, earnings $56,008. Rutgers University-Newark — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,492, earnings $56,008. University of Miami — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $59,534, earnings $55,826. University of North Texas — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,425, earnings $55,705. University of Georgia — Music Management, Undergraduate certificate. Debt $19,000, earnings $55,628. Monmouth University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $24,625, earnings $55,526. Berklee College of Music — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $41,000, earnings $55,467. Texas A & M University-Commerce — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $24,728, earnings $55,438. University of Nevada-Las Vegas — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $30,500, earnings $55,161. Baldwin Wallace University — Fine and Studio Arts Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,682, earnings $55,117. University of Hartford — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $19,227, earnings $54,836. Montclair State University — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $41,000, earnings $54,787. Illinois State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $20,500, earnings $54,767. University of South Carolina-Columbia — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $38,386, earnings $54,634. Drexel University — Music Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $24,808, earnings $54,328. Lebanon Valley College — Music Technology, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,846, earnings $54,235. University of Maryland-College Park — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $33,000, earnings $54,160. Lamar University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $20,768, earnings $53,904. Belmont University — Music Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $20,500, earnings $53,893. The University of Texas at San Antonio — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,703, earnings $53,878. Northwestern University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $18,039, earnings $53,875. University of Massachusetts-Lowell — Music Pedagogy, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $53,384. University of Denver — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $41,000, earnings $53,050. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $34,623, earnings $53,019. New York University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,000, earnings $52,841. New York University — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $103,403, earnings $52,777. SUNY College at Potsdam — Music Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $52,583. University of Rhode Island — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,000, earnings $52,346. Stephen F Austin State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,000, earnings $52,341. Texas State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,250, earnings $52,320. Furman University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $20,500, earnings $52,225. Michigan State University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,750, earnings $52,132. Old Dominion University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,500, earnings $52,028. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $35,102, earnings $51,887. James Madison University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $20,968, earnings $51,882. San Francisco Conservatory of Music — Stringed Instruments, Master’s degree. Debt $64,250, earnings $51,822. Johns Hopkins University — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $57,528, earnings $51,713. Ithaca College — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $51,338. Ohio State University-Main Campus — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,500, earnings $51,310. Rhode Island College — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $14,133, earnings $51,090. Central Washington University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,000, earnings $51,008. Luther College — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $50,947. Biola University — Music, Other, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,417, earnings $50,781. Rice University — Stringed Instruments, Master’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $50,777. Miami University-Oxford — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $50,680. Florida International University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $12,722, earnings $50,677. SUNY at Fredonia — Music Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,625, earnings $50,671. Columbia College Chicago — Music Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,000, earnings $50,592. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $24,148, earnings $50,544. Montclair State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $50,418. Wayne State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $22,452, earnings $50,340. University of Iowa — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $50,180. University of New Haven — Music Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $50,112. Florida State University — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $27,029, earnings $50,069. University of North Carolina at Charlotte — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,000, earnings $49,761. Indiana State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,250, earnings $49,711. University of Arizona — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $33,881, earnings $49,602. Oklahoma City University — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $39,946, earnings $49,533. University of Utah — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $15,500, earnings $49,240. Eastern Illinois University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,000, earnings $49,236. San Francisco Conservatory of Music — Stringed Instruments, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $49,186. University of Delaware — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,334, earnings $49,145. Grand Valley State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $29,075, earnings $49,111. Longy School of Music of Bard College — Keyboard Instruments, Master’s degree. Debt $48,000, earnings $48,961. Bard College — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $48,000, earnings $48,961. Husson University — Recording Arts Technology/Technician, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $48,777. West Texas A & M University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $22,500, earnings $48,656. Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $48,630. University of Denver — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,559, earnings $48,461. Ferris State University — Music Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $22,833, earnings $48,367. West Virginia University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,975, earnings $48,226. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $48,028. University of Nebraska-Lincoln — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,250, earnings $47,990. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $42,700, earnings $47,890. University of Missouri-Kansas City — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $32,000, earnings $47,852. California State University-Long Beach — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $21,050, earnings $47,831. University of California-Los Angeles — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $20,000, earnings $47,779. University of Maryland-College Park — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $21,614, earnings $47,654. Radford University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,280, earnings $47,586. Jacksonville State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $28,000, earnings $47,582. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $19,455, earnings $47,521. University of New Hampshire-Main Campus — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $47,448. Northern Kentucky University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,803, earnings $47,343. SUNY Oneonta — Music Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $20,500, earnings $47,324. Rowan University — Music Technology, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,898, earnings $47,208. The University of Texas at Austin — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $24,625, earnings $47,164. Austin Community College District — Music Management, Associate degree. Debt $10,500, earnings $47,134. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,557, earnings $47,079. University of New Haven — Music Technology, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $47,057. New England Institute of Technology — Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,083, earnings $46,996. Rowan University — Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $20,000, earnings $46,969. George Mason University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $21,917, earnings $46,765. Arizona State University Campus Immersion — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $40,760, earnings $46,731. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,331, earnings $46,701. University of Tulsa — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $21,500, earnings $46,662. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,499, earnings $46,532. Illinois State University — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $31,482, earnings $46,476. Georgia State University — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $39,375, earnings $46,454. University of Central Arkansas — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,500, earnings $46,446. The Juilliard School — Stringed Instruments, Master’s degree. Debt $41,000, earnings $46,372. University of Arkansas — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,256, earnings $46,352. Middle Tennessee State University — Music Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $21,500, earnings $46,349. Liberty University — Music Pedagogy, Master’s degree. Debt $34,061, earnings $46,324. Tennessee Technological University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $15,250, earnings $46,253. Duquesne University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $46,217. Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $22,500, earnings $46,196. The Catholic University of America — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,546, earnings $46,123. Bowling Green State University-Main Campus — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $32,465, earnings $46,069. Rider University — Voice and Opera, Master’s degree. Debt $41,000, earnings $45,928. Rollins College — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $45,910. University of Minnesota-Duluth — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $21,126, earnings $45,834. SUNY at Fredonia — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,584, earnings $45,794. University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $22,779, earnings $45,781. University of Oregon — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $33,462, earnings $45,719. The New England Conservatory of Music — Stringed Instruments, Master’s degree. Debt $41,000, earnings $45,532. University of California-Los Angeles — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $37,820, earnings $45,410. Dallas Baptist University — Music Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $22,781, earnings $45,369. University of Memphis — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $20,545, earnings $45,321. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,000, earnings $45,306. University of Southern California — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $64,278, earnings $45,304. University of South Carolina-Columbia — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $45,181. SUNY Buffalo State University — Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $18,375, earnings $45,120. University of Colorado Boulder — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $41,000, earnings $45,110. Austin Peay State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $30,900, earnings $45,100. California State Polytechnic University-Pomona — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $17,750, earnings $44,910. Utah State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $11,610, earnings $44,898. DePaul University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $22,379, earnings $44,756. Ohio University-Main Campus — Music Pedagogy, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,750, earnings $44,593. Florida State University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,000, earnings $44,454. Indiana University-Bloomington — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $41,000, earnings $44,312. Appalachian State University — Music Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,487, earnings $44,297. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,438, earnings $44,241. Belmont University — Recording Arts Technology/Technician, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $22,500, earnings $44,222. Temple University — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $37,500, earnings $44,122. CUNY City College — Jazz/Jazz Studies, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $21,637, earnings $44,058. University of North Texas — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $35,608, earnings $44,040. Bowling Green State University-Main Campus — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $44,037. Western Carolina University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,000, earnings $44,014. Middle Tennessee State University — Music Technology, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $20,083, earnings $43,999. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $18,997, earnings $43,777. Rider University — Voice and Opera, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $43,753. Columbia College Chicago — Recording Arts Technology/Technician, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,250, earnings $43,731. University of Hartford — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $43,700. Ferris State University — Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $21,997, earnings $43,507. Millikin University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,996, earnings $43,388. Lawrence University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $18,988, earnings $43,385. Oberlin College — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,500, earnings $43,343. Boston University — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $39,771, earnings $43,249. Kent State University at Stark — Music Technology, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $28,000, earnings $43,222. Kent State University at Kent — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $28,000, earnings $43,222. Capital University — Music, Other, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $43,125. University of the Pacific — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,017, earnings $43,093. Central Michigan University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $28,000, earnings $43,089. Liberty University — Music Pedagogy, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $42,960. California State University-Sacramento — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $19,241, earnings $42,774. University of Missouri-Kansas City — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $18,740, earnings $42,708. University of Central Missouri — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $21,500, earnings $42,610. University of Rochester — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $44,399, earnings $42,543. St Olaf College — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,500, earnings $42,439. University of Central Oklahoma — Music Technology, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $19,000, earnings $42,355. University of Maryland-Baltimore County — Music Pedagogy, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,250, earnings $42,289. Alabama A & M University — Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $33,500, earnings $42,272. California State University-Chico — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,500, earnings $42,269. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $18,500, earnings $42,232. San Diego State University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $15,383, earnings $42,090. Loyola University New Orleans — Music Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,947, earnings $42,089. The College of Saint Rose — Music Technology, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,000, earnings $42,080. SUNY at Purchase College — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $20,379, earnings $41,926. University of North Alabama — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $22,900, earnings $41,734. Chapman University — Voice and Opera, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $41,698. Ramapo College of New Jersey — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $21,000, earnings $41,659. University of New Mexico-Main Campus — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $38,240, earnings $41,657. University of Northern Colorado — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $38,046, earnings $41,645. Arizona State University Campus Immersion — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $21,504, earnings $41,610. Stetson University — Music, Other, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,000, earnings $41,298. Roosevelt University — Stringed Instruments, Master’s degree. Debt $39,903, earnings $41,219. University of Puget Sound — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $41,207. Washington State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $24,503, earnings $41,181. Elmhurst University — Music Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,376, earnings $41,122. University of Southern Mississippi — Music Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $24,990, earnings $41,095. Oregon State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $19,384, earnings $41,073. University of Arizona — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $14,650, earnings $40,922. Manhattan School of Music — Keyboard Instruments, Master’s degree. Debt $69,402, earnings $40,812. University of North Carolina at Greensboro — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,250, earnings $40,778. Morehead State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,000, earnings $40,768. Columbia College Chicago — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,625, earnings $40,734. Millersville University of Pennsylvania — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,500, earnings $40,713. California State University-Northridge — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $15,000, earnings $40,669. University of North Carolina at Greensboro — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $29,590, earnings $40,517. Northern Illinois University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,250, earnings $40,398. Temple University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $21,500, earnings $40,387. Wheaton College — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $24,556, earnings $40,329. California Institute of the Arts — Music Theory and Composition, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $19,500, earnings $40,294. California State University-Monterey Bay — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $17,250, earnings $40,077. Baylor University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,500, earnings $40,017. Jacksonville University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,000, earnings $40,009. Carnegie Mellon University — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $50,693, earnings $39,953. University of Oregon — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $20,500, earnings $39,928. University of Central Florida — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $14,845, earnings $39,898. University of Kentucky — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $22,000, earnings $39,746. Loyola University New Orleans — Voice and Opera, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,899, earnings $39,658. University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $29,500, earnings $39,637. Catawba College — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $39,633. Western Illinois University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $39,609. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $18,500, earnings $39,607. California State University-Fullerton — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $18,000, earnings $39,590. William Paterson University of New Jersey — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $24,256, earnings $39,553. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,918, earnings $39,549. DePauw University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $39,430. Boston University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $39,426. Colorado State University-Fort Collins — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,837, earnings $39,414. University of Missouri-Columbia — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $39,241. Northwestern State University of Louisiana — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $22,885, earnings $39,223. University of Louisville — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $13,747, earnings $39,168. California State University-Los Angeles — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $12,290, earnings $39,120. East Carolina University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,500, earnings $39,029. Metropolitan State University of Denver — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $24,948, earnings $38,957. Cleveland Institute of Music — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $39,673, earnings $38,887. Western Washington University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $20,055, earnings $38,858. University of Colorado Boulder — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $15,000, earnings $38,701. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $41,000, earnings $38,693. DePaul University — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $41,000, earnings $38,670. San Francisco State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $15,500, earnings $38,639. Berklee College of Music — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,392, earnings $38,617. Valencia College — Music Technology, Associate degree. Debt $9,592, earnings $38,507. Western Kentucky University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,000, earnings $38,377. Virginia Commonwealth University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $38,278. University of the Arts — Music Management, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,274, earnings $37,947. University of Northern Colorado — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,500, earnings $37,749. Baldwin Wallace University — Voice and Opera, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $37,682. Eastern Kentucky University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $19,315, earnings $37,673. Cleveland Institute of Music — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,500, earnings $37,656. Texas State University — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $33,399, earnings $37,655. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $22,055, earnings $37,616. The University of Texas at Austin — Music, General, Master’s degree. Debt $40,666, earnings $37,603. Belmont University — Music, Other, Master’s degree. Debt $51,250, earnings $37,264. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $38,500, earnings $37,208. Northwest University — Music, Other, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $19,500, earnings $37,112. Belmont University — Music, Other, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,250, earnings $36,866. Murray State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,731, earnings $36,697. SUNY College at Potsdam — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,262, earnings $36,677. Towson University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $18,801, earnings $36,285. Western Michigan University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $36,254. Georgia State University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $24,527, earnings $35,963. Western Connecticut State University — Music Theory and Composition, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,000, earnings $35,889. New Jersey City University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $20,000, earnings $35,729. East Tennessee State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,000, earnings $35,707. Lee University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,203, earnings $35,702. Oklahoma City University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,040, earnings $35,621. Iowa Western Community College — Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician, Associate degree. Debt $11,000, earnings $35,425. Vincennes University — Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician, Associate degree. Debt $12,000, earnings $35,421. Concordia College at Moorhead — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $35,351. University of Rochester — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,569, earnings $34,888. Morgan State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,500, earnings $34,725. Portland State University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $34,160. University of Southern California — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $19,839, earnings $34,124. Northwestern University — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $47,600, earnings $34,062. University of North Carolina School of the Arts — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $22,084, earnings $34,022. University of North Florida — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $17,750, earnings $33,841. Visible Music College — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,000, earnings $33,690. New England Institute of Technology — Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician, Associate degree. Debt $13,083, earnings $33,442. The New School — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,000, earnings $32,930. The Juilliard School — Stringed Instruments, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $24,485, earnings $32,842. Elmhurst University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,250, earnings $32,448. California Lutheran University — Music Technology, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,990, earnings $32,316. Guilford Technical Community College — Recording Arts Technology/Technician, Associate degree. Debt $18,550, earnings $31,784. The University of Alabama — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $23,519, earnings $31,666. University of the Arts — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $31,063. Shenandoah University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,500, earnings $30,758. Bossier Parish Community College — Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians, Other, Associate degree. Debt $9,606, earnings $30,298. Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music — Jazz/Jazz Studies, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $12,250, earnings $29,940. Johns Hopkins University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $22,440, earnings $29,849. Cleveland State University — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,645, earnings $29,842. California Institute of the Arts — Music Theory and Composition, Master’s degree. Debt $44,150, earnings $29,494. Brigham Young University — Music, Other, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $10,920, earnings $29,483. University of Louisiana at Lafayette — Music, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,115, earnings $29,175. University of Miami — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $13,999, earnings $29,090. Indiana University-Bloomington — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $20,539, earnings $28,727. Manhattan School of Music — Keyboard Instruments, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,994, earnings $27,952. Houston Community College — Recording Arts Technology/Technician, Associate degree. Debt $23,470, earnings $27,069. The New England Conservatory of Music — Stringed Instruments, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $26,983, earnings $26,985. The New School — Music Performance, General, Master’s degree. Debt $41,000, earnings $26,925. Savannah College of Art and Design — Recording Arts Technology/Technician, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,666, earnings $26,064. Roosevelt University — Stringed Instruments, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $24,232. University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo — Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $5,250, earnings $22,550. Inter American University of Puerto Rico-San German — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $12,750, earnings $19,792. Columbus State University — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $25,000, earnings $18,218. Full Sail University — Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, Other, Master’s degree. Debt $38,077, earnings $46,710. Full Sail University — Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians, Other, Associate degree. Debt $25,348, earnings $44,156. Full Sail University — Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians, Other, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $38,992, earnings $44,012. Full Sail University — Music Technology, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $28,000, earnings $39,466. Full Sail University — Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, Other, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $35,282, earnings $38,847. Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences — Recording Arts Technology/Technician, Undergraduate certificate. Debt $8,344, earnings $37,556. MediaTech Institute-Dallas — Recording Arts Technology/Technician, Associate degree. Debt $20,000, earnings $36,762. MediaTech Institute-Houston — Recording Arts Technology/Technician, Associate degree. Debt $20,000, earnings $36,762. American InterContinental University-Atlanta — Music Technology, Undergraduate certificate. Debt $9,500, earnings $36,639. American InterContinental University-Houston — Music Technology, Undergraduate certificate. Debt $9,500, earnings $36,639. Full Sail University — Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians, Other, Undergraduate certificate. Debt $12,865, earnings $36,188. Five Towns College — Music Performance, General, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $27,000, earnings $36,157. Full Sail University — Music Technology, Associate degree. Debt $22,500, earnings $34,987. Florida Institute of Recording Sound and Technology — Recording Arts Technology/Technician, Undergraduate certificate. Debt $7,853, earnings $33,711. SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville — Recording Arts Technology/Technician, Associate degree. Debt $17,919, earnings $33,379. Academy of Art University — Music Theory and Composition, Bachelor’s degree. Debt $29,910, earnings $33,151. Los Angeles Film School — Music Technology, Associate degree. Debt $20,000, earnings $33,046. Omega Studios' School of Applied Recording Arts & Sciences — Recording Arts Technology/Technician, Undergraduate certificate. Debt $5,500, earnings $31,929. SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville — Recording Arts Technology/Technician, Undergraduate certificate. Debt $9,500, earnings $31,742. Full Sail University — Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, Other, Associate degree. Debt $22,674, earnings $30,931. Atlanta Institute of Music and Media — Music Technology, Undergraduate certificate. Debt $11,152, earnings $30,624. International College of Broadcasting — Music, Other, Associate degree. Debt $25,283, earnings $30,367. Median graduate earnings, four years after completing Median graduate debt
345 programs reporting both figures. 20 of the plotted programs sit above the dashed line, where graduates owe more than they earn in a year. 22 are private for-profit.
Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study (retrieved September 2026)
