U.S. median for this major: $43,753.
College Scorecard field of study; 20 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 58% 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 $19,725. College Scorecard.
NKU 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 NKU'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 | $2,603 | $11,375 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $3,630 | $15,863 | 1.1 years |
| $48–75k | $6,761 | $29,546 | 2.1 years |
| $75–110k | $12,679 | $55,407 | 4.0 years |
| $110k+ | $14,522 | $63,461 | 4.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (35% 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 ($47,343) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in KY (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $13,827 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 NKU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NKU
- Acceptance rate: 68% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 52% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $50,220
- Full cost breakdown · all 63 majors · overview
Related majors at NKU
- Theatre$35,624
- Studio Art$42,684
NKU Music questions
How much do NKU Music graduates earn?
Music graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn a median $47,343 four years after graduating and $34,428 one year after. The U.S. median for Music graduates across 263 colleges is $43,753.
How much debt do NKU Music graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Music graduates of Northern Kentucky University is $27,357, about 58% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is NKU a good school for Music in Kentucky?
On pay, Music graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn $47,343 four years out, $8,175 above the median for the same major across 7 Kentucky colleges ($39,168) and $3,590 above the U.S. median ($43,753). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does NKU rank for Music in Kentucky?
Of 7 Kentucky colleges reporting Music graduate earnings, Northern Kentucky 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 $66,190 in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN 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: “Northern Kentucky University Music: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/northern-kentucky-university/majors/music (College Scorecard and BLS data).