Compare 14 Music. programs in Ohio. Average earnings: $29,100.
The highest-earning Music program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $23K earnings gap across 14 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Capital University's Music program leads with graduates earning $42,856, well above the $29,100 average across Ohio programs. Ohio University follows at $37,335, with Otterbein close behind at $37,081. The variation shows that program quality varies independently of school rankings—three different institutions claiming the top spots.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Capital University graduates borrow $26,889 and face an 18.2% payment burden, landing in the 'Challenging' category. While all top programs require careful financial planning, Capital delivers the strongest earnings to offset the debt load.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Capital UniversityPrivate | $42,856 | 41 | $26,889 | Challenging | $28,132 | High |
| #2 | $37,335 | 35 | $21,056 | Challenging | $23,508 | High | |
| #3 | Otterbein UniversityPrivate | $37,081 | 12 | $26,000 | Challenging | $39,500 | High |
| #4 | $32,887 | 19 | $21,797 | High | $16,998 | High | |
| #5 | $32,173 | 43 | $21,250 | High | $23,602 | High | |
| #6 | $31,456 | 23 | $19,976 | High | $25,868 | High | |
| #7 | $29,027 | 34 | $25,000 | High | $25,947 | High | |
| #8 | Miami University-OxfordPublic | $27,295 | 26 | $23,000 | High | $34,512 | High |
| #9 | Baldwin Wallace UniversityPrivate | $25,846 | 23 | $27,000 | High | $31,484 | High |
| #10 | $25,707 | 18 | $24,500 | High | $21,394 | High | |
| #11 | Cedarville UniversityPrivate | $23,649 | 11 | $20,937 | High | $37,422 | High |
| #12 | Oberlin CollegePrivate | $21,518 | 133 | $26,000 | High | $45,976 | High |
| #13 | Cleveland Institute Of MusicPrivate | $20,371 | 55 | $24,968 | High | $47,117 | High |
| #14 | $20,205 | 25 | $23,250 | High | $22,000 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
