U.S. median for this major: $43,753.
College Scorecard field of study; 19 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 67% 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 $23,867. College Scorecard.
ECU 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 ECU'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 | $10,046 | $43,700 | 7.9 years |
| $30–48k | $11,699 | $50,891 | 9.2 years |
| $48–75k | $14,904 | $64,832 | 11.8 years |
| $75–110k | $20,417 | $88,814 | 16.1 years |
| $110k+ | $23,028 | $100,172 | 18.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (43% 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 ($39,029) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $5,513 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 North Carolina colleges
Every North Carolina 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 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $58,127 | $19,000 | $11,655 | 91% |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $49,761 | $25,858 | $15,435 | 69% |
| 3 | Western Carolina University | $44,014 | $27,000 | $13,315 | 60% |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | $40,778 | $26,000 | $10,965 | 56% |
| 5 | Catawba College | $39,633 | $27,000 | $17,879 | 47% |
| 6 | East Carolina University | $39,029 | $26,000 | $15,739 | 63% |
| 7 | University of North Carolina Asheville | $37,484 | — | $12,250 | 54% |
| 8 | University of North Carolina School of the Arts | $34,022 | $23,143 | $14,906 | 78% |
36 more North Carolina 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 ECU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About ECU
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 63% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $55,146
- Full cost breakdown · all 68 majors · overview
Related majors at ECU
- Theatre$41,394
- Studio Art$45,817
ECU Music questions
How much do ECU Music graduates earn?
Music graduates of East Carolina University earn a median $39,029 four years after graduating. The U.S. median for Music graduates across 263 colleges is $43,753.
How much debt do ECU Music graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Music graduates of East Carolina University is $26,000, about 67% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is ECU a good school for Music in North Carolina?
On pay, Music graduates of East Carolina University earn $39,029 four years out, $1,177 below the median for the same major across 8 North Carolina colleges ($40,206) and $4,724 below the U.S. median ($43,753). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does ECU rank for Music in North Carolina?
Of 8 North Carolina colleges reporting Music graduate earnings, East Carolina University ranks 6th. The highest is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at $58,127.
What jobs do Music graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $57,230 in the Greenville, NC 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: “East Carolina University Music: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/east-carolina-university/majors/music (College Scorecard and BLS data).