U.S. median for this major: $43,753.
College Scorecard field of study; 58 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 34% 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 $91,250. College Scorecard.
Northwestern 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 Northwestern 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 | $1,764 | $7,232 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $6,099 | $25,006 | 1.4 years |
| $48–75k | $7,898 | $32,382 | 1.8 years |
| $75–110k | $18,282 | $74,956 | 4.1 years |
| $110k+ | $48,777 | $199,986 | 11.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (88% 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 ($53,875) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $18,078 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 Illinois colleges
Every Illinois 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 | Illinois State University | $54,767 | $20,500 | $19,398 | 65% |
| 2 | Northwestern University | $53,875 | $18,166 | $29,167 | 95% |
| 3 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $50,544 | $24,625 | $14,355 | 85% |
| 4 | Eastern Illinois University | $49,236 | $26,300 | $12,786 | 47% |
| 5 | North Central College | $46,744 | — | $21,044 | 64% |
| 6 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | $46,196 | $23,500 | $14,889 | 57% |
| 7 | DePaul University | $44,756 | $23,334 | $30,902 | 68% |
| 8 | Millikin University | $43,388 | $26,996 | $21,989 | 55% |
| 9 | Columbia College Chicago | $40,734 | $27,000 | $26,598 | 52% |
| 10 | Northern Illinois University | $40,398 | $29,000 | $13,391 | 49% |
| 11 | Wheaton College | $40,329 | $24,556 | $26,975 | 85% |
| 12 | Western Illinois University | $39,609 | $30,000 | $12,937 | 45% |
| 13 | Elmhurst University | $32,448 | $28,125 | $24,185 | 70% |
| 14 | Roosevelt University | $24,232 | $27,750 | $20,194 | 35% |
31 more Illinois 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 Northwestern University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Northwestern University
- Acceptance rate: 8% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 95% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $89,363
- Full cost breakdown · all 85 majors · overview
Related majors at Northwestern University
- Theatre$49,316
- Studio Art—
Northwestern University Music questions
How much do Northwestern University Music graduates earn?
Music graduates of Northwestern University earn a median $53,875 four years after graduating and $34,823 one year after. The U.S. median for Music graduates across 263 colleges is $43,753.
How much debt do Northwestern University Music graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Music graduates of Northwestern University is $18,166, about 34% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is Northwestern University a good school for Music in Illinois?
On pay, Music graduates of Northwestern University earn $53,875 four years out, $9,803 above the median for the same major across 14 Illinois colleges ($44,072) and $10,122 above the U.S. median ($43,753). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Northwestern University rank for Music in Illinois?
Of 14 Illinois colleges reporting Music graduate earnings, Northwestern University ranks 2nd. The highest is Illinois State University at $54,767.
What jobs do Music graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $98,970 in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-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: “Northwestern University Music: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/northwestern-university/majors/music (College Scorecard and BLS data).