U.S. median for this major: $43,753.
College Scorecard field of study; 21 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 148% 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 $21,676. College Scorecard.
Columbus State University 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 Columbus State University'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 | $11,271 | $51,621 | no earnings gain |
| $30–48k | $11,873 | $54,378 | no earnings gain |
| $48–75k | $13,786 | $63,140 | no earnings gain |
| $75–110k | $16,542 | $75,762 | no earnings gain |
| $110k+ | $18,329 | $83,947 | no earnings gain |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.6 years, the average time graduates took (22% 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 ($18,218) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in GA (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 Georgia colleges
Every Georgia 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 | Mercer University | $46,502 | — | $23,847 | 70% |
| 2 | Georgia State University | $35,963 | $26,000 | $15,931 | 53% |
| 3 | Georgia Southern University | $34,150 | — | $15,267 | 55% |
| 4 | Valdosta State University | $27,357 | — | $10,945 | 42% |
| 5 | Columbus State University | $18,218 | $27,000 | $13,115 | 42% |
29 more Georgia 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 Columbus State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Columbus State University
- Acceptance rate: 99% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 42% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $44,544
- Full cost breakdown · all 34 majors · overview
Related majors at Columbus State University
- Theatre$34,931
- Studio Art$35,560
Columbus State University Music questions
How much do Columbus State University Music graduates earn?
Music graduates of Columbus State University earn a median $18,218 four years after graduating. The U.S. median for Music graduates across 263 colleges is $43,753.
How much debt do Columbus State University Music graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Music graduates of Columbus State University is $27,000, about 148% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is Columbus State University a good school for Music in Georgia?
On pay, Music graduates of Columbus State University earn $18,218 four years out, $15,932 below the median for the same major across 5 Georgia colleges ($34,150) and $25,535 below the U.S. median ($43,753). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Columbus State University rank for Music in Georgia?
Of 5 Georgia colleges reporting Music graduate earnings, Columbus State University ranks 5th. The highest is Mercer University at $46,502.
What jobs do Music graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $62,540 in the Columbus, GA-AL 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: “Columbus State University Music: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/columbus-state-university/majors/music (College Scorecard and BLS data).