U.S. median for this major: $43,753.
College Scorecard field of study; 30 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 82% 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 $21,590. College Scorecard.
Portland 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 Portland 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 | $7,655 | $33,835 | no earnings gain |
| $30–48k | $7,752 | $34,264 | no earnings gain |
| $48–75k | $8,981 | $39,696 | no earnings gain |
| $75–110k | $12,993 | $57,429 | no earnings gain |
| $110k+ | $19,112 | $84,475 | no earnings gain |
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 ($34,160) minus $36,549 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in OR (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 Oregon colleges
Every Oregon 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 | Oregon State University | $41,073 | $19,184 | $19,604 | 70% |
| 2 | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus | $41,073 | $19,184 | $18,048 | 56% |
| 3 | University of Oregon | $39,928 | $20,583 | $22,182 | 72% |
| 4 | Southern Oregon University | $36,201 | — | $16,732 | 43% |
| 5 | Portland State University | $34,160 | $27,846 | $9,552 | 53% |
12 more Oregon 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 Portland State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Portland State University
- Acceptance rate: 91% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 53% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $57,906
- Full cost breakdown · all 72 majors · overview
Related majors at Portland State University
- Theatre$45,692
- Studio Art$40,731
Portland State University Music questions
How much do Portland State University Music graduates earn?
Music graduates of Portland State University earn a median $34,160 four years after graduating and $17,638 one year after. The U.S. median for Music graduates across 263 colleges is $43,753.
How much debt do Portland State University Music graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Music graduates of Portland State University is $27,846, about 82% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is Portland State University a good school for Music in Oregon?
On pay, Music graduates of Portland State University earn $34,160 four years out, $5,768 below the median for the same major across 5 Oregon colleges ($39,928) and $9,593 below the U.S. median ($43,753). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Portland State University rank for Music in Oregon?
Of 5 Oregon colleges reporting Music graduate earnings, Portland State University ranks 5th. The highest is Oregon State University at $41,073.
What jobs do Music graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $84,120 in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 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: “Portland State University Music: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/portland-state-university/majors/music (College Scorecard and BLS data).