U.S. median for this major: $43,753.
College Scorecard field of study; 30 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 51% 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 $28,816. College Scorecard.
CWU 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 CWU'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 | $11,846 | $52,478 | 4.9 years |
| $30–48k | $13,942 | $61,763 | 5.7 years |
| $48–75k | $16,022 | $70,977 | 6.6 years |
| $75–110k | $21,682 | $96,051 | 8.9 years |
| $110k+ | $26,719 | $118,365 | 11.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (32% 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 ($51,008) minus $40,219 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $10,789 a year. 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 Washington colleges
Every Washington 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 | Central Washington University | $51,008 | $26,000 | $18,476 | 54% |
| 2 | University of Puget Sound | $41,207 | $27,000 | $38,394 | 68% |
| 3 | Washington State University | $41,181 | $24,503 | $14,971 | 61% |
| 4 | Western Washington University | $38,858 | $20,055 | $21,193 | 65% |
| 5 | Northwest University | $37,112 | $19,500 | $22,288 | 71% |
10 more Washington 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 CWU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About CWU
- Acceptance rate: 91% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 54% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $61,580
- Full cost breakdown · all 113 majors · overview
Related majors at CWU
- Theatre$33,800
- Studio Art$40,251
- Arts and Entertainment Management—
CWU Music questions
How much do CWU Music graduates earn?
Music graduates of Central Washington University earn a median $51,008 four years after graduating and $25,532 one year after. The U.S. median for Music graduates across 263 colleges is $43,753.
How much debt do CWU Music graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Music graduates of Central Washington University is $26,000, about 51% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is CWU a good school for Music in Washington?
On pay, Music graduates of Central Washington University earn $51,008 four years out, $9,827 above the median for the same major across 5 Washington colleges ($41,181) and $7,255 above the U.S. median ($43,753). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does CWU rank for Music in Washington?
Of 5 Washington colleges reporting Music graduate earnings, Central Washington University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Music graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $102,670 in Washington 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: “Central Washington University Music: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/central-washington-university/majors/music (College Scorecard and BLS data).