U.S. median for this major: $43,753.
College Scorecard field of study; 18 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 48% 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 $24,100. College Scorecard.
TSU 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 TSU'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 | $15,574 | $68,681 | 3.0 years |
| $30–48k | $16,980 | $74,882 | 3.2 years |
| $48–75k | $20,396 | $89,946 | 3.9 years |
| $75–110k | $23,466 | $103,485 | 4.5 years |
| $110k+ | $24,076 | $106,175 | 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 ($56,671) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TX (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $23,155 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 Texas colleges
Every Texas 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 | The University of Texas at El Paso | $60,172 | $14,612 | $9,403 | 50% |
| 2 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | $59,218 | $20,920 | $4,831 | 51% |
| 3 | The University of Texas at Arlington | $59,198 | $24,911 | $13,951 | 54% |
| 4 | Sam Houston State University | $58,743 | $28,000 | $16,404 | 55% |
| 5 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville | $57,117 | $31,000 | $12,090 | 42% |
| 6 | Texas Tech University | $57,043 | $27,816 | $19,070 | 69% |
| 7 | Texas Woman's University | $56,884 | $25,810 | $11,963 | 49% |
| 8 | Tarleton State University | $56,671 | $27,000 | $20,783 | 48% |
| 9 | University of Houston | $56,667 | $26,000 | $14,276 | 65% |
| 10 | University of North Texas | $55,705 | $24,456 | $15,649 | 61% |
| 11 | East Texas A&M University | $55,438 | $27,101 | $11,841 | 43% |
| 12 | Lamar University | $53,904 | $26,407 | $9,366 | 37% |
| 13 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | $53,878 | $24,570 | $10,836 | 53% |
| 14 | Texas A & M International University | $52,870 | — | $3,637 | 46% |
| 15 | Stephen F Austin State University | $52,341 | $27,000 | $14,260 | 53% |
| 16 | Texas State University | $52,320 | $26,241 | $16,805 | 55% |
| 17 | West Texas A & M University | $48,656 | $24,750 | $19,487 | 55% |
| 18 | The University of Texas at Austin | $47,164 | $26,000 | $19,857 | 89% |
| 19 | The University of Texas at Tyler | $45,651 | — | $13,323 | 54% |
| 20 | Baylor University | $40,017 | $27,000 | $41,104 | 80% |
37 more Texas 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 TSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About TSU
- Acceptance rate: 90% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 48% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $53,040
- Full cost breakdown · all 69 majors · overview
Related majors at TSU
- Theatre—
- Studio Art$43,665
TSU Music questions
How much do TSU Music graduates earn?
Music graduates of Tarleton State University earn a median $56,671 four years after graduating. The U.S. median for Music graduates across 263 colleges is $43,753.
How much debt do TSU Music graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Music graduates of Tarleton State University is $27,000, about 48% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is TSU a good school for Music in Texas?
On pay, Music graduates of Tarleton State University earn $56,671 four years out, $1,099 above the median for the same major across 20 Texas colleges ($55,572) and $12,918 above the U.S. median ($43,753). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does TSU rank for Music in Texas?
Of 20 Texas colleges reporting Music graduate earnings, Tarleton State University ranks 8th. The highest is The University of Texas at El Paso at $60,172.
What jobs do Music graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $63,590 in Texas and $72,040 nationally. Others include music directors and composers.
Is TSU the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing TSU with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
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: “Tarleton State University Music: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/tarleton-state-university/majors/music (College Scorecard and BLS data).