Education
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $78,620
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Master's degree
- Speaking
- Instructing
- Learning Strategies
ProgramsVisual and Performing Arts
Music
CIP50.09
1,058 colleges offer Music. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 1,058
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $43,386
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $23,183
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 197
- Associate's
- 330
- Bachelor's
- 1,058
- Master's
- 321
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 18
- Doctoral
- 103
- First professional
- 8
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 118
What it covers
About Music
A general program that focuses on the introductory study and appreciation of music and the performing arts. Includes instruction in music, dance, and other performing arts media.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 50.09.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 50.09.
- Music, General
- Music History, Literature, and Theory
- Music Performance, General
- Music Theory and Composition
- Musicology and Ethnomusicology
- Conducting
- Keyboard Instruments
- Voice and Opera
- Jazz/Jazz Studies
- Stringed Instruments
- Music Pedagogy
- Music Technology
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 197 | $34,0144 yrs after · 7 colleges | $7,1255 colleges |
| Associate's | 330 | $37,3194 yrs after · 9 colleges | $21,4165 colleges |
| Bachelor's | 1,058 | $43,3864 yrs after · 258 colleges | $23,183233 colleges |
| Master's | 321 | $47,3574 yrs after · 98 colleges | $39,70053 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 18 | $38,0561 yr after · 1 college | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 103 | $57,7964 yrs after · 30 colleges | $41,0329 colleges |
| First professional | 8 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 118 | $28,8271 yr after · 1 college | $48,0001 college |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Music graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Rohnert Park, CA · Public · 22 graduates
$65,533
debt not reported
- 2
Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ · Private nonprofit · 22 graduates
$61,943
debt $27,000
- 3
Gainesville, FL · Public · 44 graduates
$61,446
debt $13,725
- 4
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · 24 graduates
$60,974
debt $18,500
- 5
The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX · Public · 22 graduates
$60,172
debt $17,334
- 6
Redlands, CA · Private nonprofit · 12 graduates
$59,275
debt $23,322
- 7
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TX · Public · 48 graduates
$59,218
debt $13,956
- 8
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit · 55 graduates
$59,217
debt $8,207
- 9
The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX · Public · 34 graduates
$59,198
debt $18,202
- 10
Huntsville, TX · Public · 56 graduates
$58,743
debt $24,246
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Music by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
Arts, design and media
Music Directors and Composers
- Median pay
- $73,710
- Outlook
- Slower than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
Arts, design and media
Sound Engineering Technicians
- Median pay
- $73,130
- Outlook
- Decline
Postsecondary certificate
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
Education
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Median pay
- $72,040
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Instructing
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
More in Visual and Performing Arts
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Fine and Studio Arts1,052 colleges
- Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft862 colleges
- Design and Applied Arts652 colleges
- Film/Video and Photographic Arts427 colleges
- Visual and Performing Arts, General298 colleges
- Dance278 colleges
- Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management230 colleges
- Visual and Performing Arts, Other62 colleges
Questions about Music
How many colleges offer Music?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Music at these degree levels: certificate (197 colleges), associate's (330 colleges), bachelor's (1,058 colleges), master's (321 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (18 colleges), doctoral (103 colleges), first professional (8 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (118 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Music graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Music earn $43,386 a year four years after finishing, across 258 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Music graduates earn the most?
Sonoma State University reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Music: $65,533 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.