U.S. median for this major: $43,753.
College Scorecard field of study; 27 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 73% 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 $23,485. College Scorecard.
Murray 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 Murray 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 | $6,242 | $26,716 | 8.4 years |
| $30–48k | $6,347 | $27,165 | 8.5 years |
| $48–75k | $8,104 | $34,685 | 10.9 years |
| $75–110k | $12,811 | $54,831 | 17.2 years |
| $110k+ | $15,450 | $66,126 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (48% 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 ($36,697) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in KY (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $3,181 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 Kentucky colleges
Every Kentucky 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 | Northern Kentucky University | $47,343 | $27,357 | $8,191 | 52% |
| 2 | Morehead State University | $40,768 | $25,000 | $9,793 | 52% |
| 3 | University of Kentucky | $39,746 | $23,000 | $18,851 | 71% |
| 4 | University of Louisville | $39,168 | $20,745 | $17,988 | 61% |
| 5 | Western Kentucky University | $38,377 | $24,317 | $10,990 | 56% |
| 6 | Eastern Kentucky University | $37,673 | $20,379 | $11,040 | 50% |
| 7 | Murray State University | $36,697 | $26,731 | $9,096 | 61% |
12 more Kentucky 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 Murray State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Murray State University
- Acceptance rate: 86% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 61% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $44,737
- Full cost breakdown · all 63 majors · overview
Related majors at Murray State University
- Theatre—
- Studio Art$38,192
- Arts and Entertainment Management—
Murray State University Music questions
How much do Murray State University Music graduates earn?
Music graduates of Murray State University earn a median $36,697 four years after graduating and $34,098 one year after. The U.S. median for Music graduates across 263 colleges is $43,753.
How much debt do Murray State University Music graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Music graduates of Murray State University is $26,731, about 73% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is Murray State University a good school for Music in Kentucky?
On pay, Music graduates of Murray State University earn $36,697 four years out, $2,471 below the median for the same major across 7 Kentucky colleges ($39,168) and $7,056 below the U.S. median ($43,753). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Murray State University rank for Music in Kentucky?
Of 7 Kentucky colleges reporting Music graduate earnings, Murray State University ranks 7th. The highest is Northern Kentucky University at $47,343.
What jobs do Music graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $61,560 in Kentucky 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: “Murray State University Music: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/murray-state-university/majors/music (College Scorecard and BLS data).