U.S. median for this major: $43,753.
College Scorecard field of study; 23 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 68% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $26,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $86,285. College Scorecard.
BU Music: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses BU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $9,500 | $38,855 | no earnings gain |
| $30–48k | $9,342 | $38,209 | no earnings gain |
| $48–75k | $11,778 | $48,172 | no earnings gain |
| $75–110k | $22,517 | $92,095 | no earnings gain |
| $110k+ | $47,504 | $194,291 | no earnings gain |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (83% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Music graduates 4 years after graduating ($39,426) minus $39,880 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MA (Census ACS 2020-2024). Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Music at Massachusetts colleges
Every Massachusetts college we cover that reports Music graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeastern University | $60,974 | $26,568 | $30,915 | 91% |
| 2 | Northeastern University Professional Programs | $60,974 | $26,568 | — | — |
| 3 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | $53,384 | $27,000 | $17,163 | 65% |
| 4 | Westfield State University | $39,692 | — | $16,721 | 54% |
| 5 | Boston University | $39,426 | $26,957 | $24,402 | 89% |
| 6 | Berklee College of Music | $38,617 | $24,979 | $49,465 | 67% |
| 7 | The New England Conservatory of Music | $26,985 | $26,991 | $46,754 | 73% |
26 more Massachusetts colleges offer Music but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Music graduates
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Music Directors and Composers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +1.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at BU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About BU
- Acceptance rate: 11% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 89% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $83,238
- Full cost breakdown · all 79 majors · overview
Related majors at BU
- Theatre$39,322
- Studio Art$49,538
BU Music questions
How much do BU Music graduates earn?
Music graduates of Boston University earn a median $39,426 four years after graduating and $23,934 one year after. The U.S. median for Music graduates across 263 colleges is $43,753.
How much debt do BU Music graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Music graduates of Boston University is $26,957, about 68% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is BU a good school for Music in Massachusetts?
On pay, Music graduates of Boston University earn $39,426 four years out, $266 below the median for the same major across 7 Massachusetts colleges ($39,692) and $4,327 below the U.S. median ($43,753). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does BU rank for Music in Massachusetts?
Of 7 Massachusetts colleges reporting Music graduate earnings, Boston University ranks 5th. The highest is Northeastern University at $60,974.
What jobs do Music graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $98,850 in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH area and $72,040 nationally. Others include music directors and composers.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Boston University Music: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/boston-university/majors/music (College Scorecard and BLS data).