U.S. median for this major: $43,753.
College Scorecard field of study; 65 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 74% 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 $29,237. College Scorecard.
WMU 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 WMU'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 | $5,263 | $24,262 | 8.5 years |
| $30–48k | $5,734 | $26,434 | 9.3 years |
| $48–75k | $13,833 | $63,770 | more than 20 years |
| $75–110k | $18,307 | $84,395 | more than 20 years |
| $110k+ | $23,625 | $108,911 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.6 years, the average time graduates took (29% 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 ($36,254) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $2,843 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 Michigan colleges
Every Michigan 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 | Michigan State University | $52,132 | $26,750 | $19,680 | 81% |
| 2 | Wayne State University | $50,340 | $26,000 | $12,766 | 58% |
| 3 | Grand Valley State University | $49,111 | $29,198 | $16,317 | 67% |
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $43,777 | $19,397 | $13,138 | 93% |
| 5 | Central Michigan University | $43,089 | $27,975 | $17,597 | 59% |
| 6 | Western Michigan University | $36,254 | $27,000 | $15,273 | 58% |
23 more Michigan 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 WMU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About WMU
- Acceptance rate: 85% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 58% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $53,562
- Full cost breakdown · all 99 majors · overview
Related majors at WMU
- Theatre$44,694
- Studio Art$36,615
- Arts and Entertainment Management—
WMU Music questions
How much do WMU Music graduates earn?
Music graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median $36,254 four years after graduating and $24,775 one year after. The U.S. median for Music graduates across 263 colleges is $43,753.
How much debt do WMU Music graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Music graduates of Western Michigan University is $27,000, about 74% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is WMU a good school for Music in Michigan?
On pay, Music graduates of Western Michigan University earn $36,254 four years out, $10,190 below the median for the same major across 6 Michigan colleges ($46,444) and $7,499 below the U.S. median ($43,753). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does WMU rank for Music in Michigan?
Of 6 Michigan colleges reporting Music graduate earnings, Western Michigan University ranks 6th. The highest is Michigan State University at $52,132.
What jobs do Music graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $72,410 in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI 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: “Western Michigan University Music: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-michigan-university/majors/music (College Scorecard and BLS data).