U.S. median for this major: $43,753.
College Scorecard field of study; 26 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 69% 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 $31,713. College Scorecard.
University of Missouri-Columbia 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 University of Missouri-Columbia'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 | $13,841 | $59,516 | 15.6 years |
| $30–48k | $13,378 | $57,525 | 15.1 years |
| $48–75k | $13,722 | $59,005 | 15.5 years |
| $75–110k | $19,762 | $84,977 | more than 20 years |
| $110k+ | $26,304 | $113,107 | more than 20 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 ($39,241) minus $35,438 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MO (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $3,803 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 Missouri colleges
Every Missouri 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 Missouri-Kansas City | $42,708 | $23,089 | $13,310 | 55% |
| 2 | University of Central Missouri | $42,610 | $21,750 | $14,462 | 54% |
| 3 | University of Missouri-St Louis | $40,496 | — | $15,071 | 57% |
| 4 | University of Missouri-Columbia | $39,241 | $27,000 | $20,268 | 75% |
| 5 | Missouri State University-Springfield | $32,984 | — | $17,613 | 58% |
25 more Missouri 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 University of Missouri-Columbia, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Missouri-Columbia
- Acceptance rate: 78% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,403
- Full cost breakdown · all 87 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Missouri-Columbia
- Theatre—
- Studio Art$51,254
University of Missouri-Columbia Music questions
How much do University of Missouri-Columbia Music graduates earn?
Music graduates of University of Missouri-Columbia earn a median $39,241 four years after graduating and $35,939 one year after. The U.S. median for Music graduates across 263 colleges is $43,753.
How much debt do University of Missouri-Columbia Music graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Music graduates of University of Missouri-Columbia is $27,000, about 69% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is University of Missouri-Columbia a good school for Music in Missouri?
On pay, Music graduates of University of Missouri-Columbia earn $39,241 four years out, $1,255 below the median for the same major across 5 Missouri colleges ($40,496) and $4,512 below the U.S. median ($43,753). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Missouri-Columbia rank for Music in Missouri?
Of 5 Missouri colleges reporting Music graduate earnings, University of Missouri-Columbia ranks 4th. The highest is University of Missouri-Kansas City at $42,708.
What jobs do Music graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $58,720 in the Columbia, MO 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 Missouri-Columbia Music: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-missouri-columbia/majors/music (College Scorecard and BLS data).