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 68% 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 $22,756. College Scorecard.
UWM 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 UWM'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 | $10,329 | $46,894 | more than 20 years |
| $30–48k | $10,709 | $48,619 | more than 20 years |
| $48–75k | $12,344 | $56,042 | more than 20 years |
| $75–110k | $19,315 | $87,690 | more than 20 years |
| $110k+ | $21,477 | $97,506 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (28% 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 ($37,616) minus $37,564 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $52 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 Wisconsin colleges
Every Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin-Eau Claire | $47,079 | $26,637 | $16,550 | 64% |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | $45,306 | $27,000 | $14,158 | 59% |
| 3 | Lawrence University | $43,385 | $19,000 | $23,401 | 77% |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | $37,616 | $25,750 | $15,014 | 49% |
21 more Wisconsin 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 UWM, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About UWM
- Acceptance rate: 91% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 49% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $54,990
- Full cost breakdown · all 89 majors · overview
Related majors at UWM
- Theatre$39,452
- Studio Art$44,788
UWM Music questions
How much do UWM Music graduates earn?
Music graduates of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee earn a median $37,616 four years after graduating and $26,875 one year after. The U.S. median for Music graduates across 263 colleges is $43,753.
How much debt do UWM Music graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Music graduates of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is $25,750, about 68% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is UWM a good school for Music in Wisconsin?
On pay, Music graduates of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee earn $37,616 four years out, $6,730 below the median for the same major across 4 Wisconsin colleges ($44,346) and $6,137 below the U.S. median ($43,753). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does UWM rank for Music in Wisconsin?
Of 4 Wisconsin colleges reporting Music graduate earnings, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee ranks 4th. The highest is University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire at $47,079.
What jobs do Music graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $75,370 in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI 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 Wisconsin-Milwaukee Music: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-wisconsin-milwaukee/majors/music (College Scorecard and BLS data).