U.S. median for this major: $43,753.
College Scorecard field of study; 39 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 50% 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 $33,678. College Scorecard.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville 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 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville'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 | $10,029 | $42,924 | 3.5 years |
| $30–48k | $12,162 | $52,053 | 4.3 years |
| $48–75k | $18,206 | $77,922 | 6.4 years |
| $75–110k | $23,627 | $101,124 | 8.3 years |
| $110k+ | $25,688 | $109,945 | 9.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (56% 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 ($46,701) minus $34,518 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $12,183 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 Tennessee colleges
Every Tennessee 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 | Vanderbilt University | $59,217 | $21,500 | $15,846 | 94% |
| 2 | Tennessee State University | $53,483 | — | $15,796 | 34% |
| 3 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $46,701 | $23,453 | $18,976 | 74% |
| 4 | Tennessee Technological University | $46,253 | $17,500 | $14,246 | 58% |
| 5 | University of Memphis | $45,321 | $22,060 | $12,397 | 51% |
| 6 | Austin Peay State University | $45,100 | $31,000 | $9,735 | 40% |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee-Martin | $44,910 | — | $10,701 | 53% |
| 8 | Middle Tennessee State University | $43,999 | $22,608 | $13,359 | 54% |
| 9 | Belmont University | $36,866 | $25,988 | $33,147 | 71% |
| 10 | East Tennessee State University | $35,707 | $23,000 | $15,983 | 53% |
| 11 | Lee University | $35,702 | $28,000 | $18,878 | 63% |
23 more Tennessee 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 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- Acceptance rate: 42% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 74% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $60,249
- Full cost breakdown · all 82 majors · overview
Related majors at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- Theatre$41,414
- Studio Art$34,609
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Music questions
How much do The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Music graduates earn?
Music graduates of The University of Tennessee-Knoxville earn a median $46,701 four years after graduating and $31,888 one year after. The U.S. median for Music graduates across 263 colleges is $43,753.
How much debt do The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Music graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Music graduates of The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is $23,453, about 50% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville a good school for Music in Tennessee?
On pay, Music graduates of The University of Tennessee-Knoxville earn $46,701 four years out, $1,601 above the median for the same major across 11 Tennessee colleges ($45,100) and $2,948 above the U.S. median ($43,753). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does The University of Tennessee-Knoxville rank for Music in Tennessee?
Of 11 Tennessee colleges reporting Music graduate earnings, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville ranks 3rd. The highest is Vanderbilt University at $59,217.
What jobs do Music graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $63,130 in the Knoxville, TN 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: “The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Music: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville/majors/music (College Scorecard and BLS data).