U.S. median for this major: $43,753.
College Scorecard field of study; 23 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 45% 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 $37,684. College Scorecard.
CU 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 CU'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 | $14,231 | $60,624 | no earnings gain |
| $30–48k | $14,381 | $61,263 | no earnings gain |
| $48–75k | $18,828 | $80,207 | no earnings gain |
| $75–110k | $26,915 | $114,658 | no earnings gain |
| $110k+ | $34,818 | $148,325 | no earnings gain |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (58% 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 ($38,701) minus $40,610 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in CO (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 Colorado colleges
Every Colorado 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 | University of Denver | $48,461 | $24,250 | $36,131 | 76% |
| 2 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | $46,532 | $27,000 | $11,900 | 46% |
| 3 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | $39,414 | $26,837 | $21,279 | 67% |
| 4 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | $38,957 | $30,971 | $15,327 | 32% |
| 5 | University of Colorado Boulder | $38,701 | $17,288 | $25,346 | 74% |
| 6 | University of Northern Colorado | $37,749 | $24,354 | $17,760 | 51% |
10 more Colorado 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 CU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About CU
- Acceptance rate: 78% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 74% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $69,738
- Full cost breakdown · all 68 majors · overview
Related majors at CU
- Theatre—
- Studio Art$47,297
CU Music questions
How much do CU Music graduates earn?
Music graduates of University of Colorado Boulder earn a median $38,701 four years after graduating. The U.S. median for Music graduates across 263 colleges is $43,753.
How much debt do CU Music graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Music graduates of University of Colorado Boulder is $17,288, about 45% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is CU a good school for Music in Colorado?
On pay, Music graduates of University of Colorado Boulder earn $38,701 four years out, $485 below the median for the same major across 6 Colorado colleges ($39,186) and $5,052 below the U.S. median ($43,753). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does CU rank for Music in Colorado?
Of 6 Colorado colleges reporting Music graduate earnings, University of Colorado Boulder ranks 5th. The highest is University of Denver at $48,461.
What jobs do Music graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $81,450 in the Boulder, CO 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: “University of Colorado Boulder Music: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-colorado-boulder/majors/music (College Scorecard and BLS data).