Compare 25 Music. programs in Texas. Average earnings: $43,670.
With top graduates earning $55,639, Music stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $12K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
The University of Houston's Music program leads with graduates earning $55,639, followed closely by UT Rio Grande Valley at $55,090. The $43,670 state average masks significant variation—these top programs demonstrate that regional publics can outperform expectations when you look beyond school rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. UT Rio Grande Valley graduates borrow $12,950 and face just a 5.5% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, proving top outcomes can be affordable.
Highest program earnings: $55,639
Strong outcomes ($53,695) with 92% acceptance
5.5% payment burden | Excellent
9.4% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of HoustonPublic | $55,639 | 66 | $18,194 | Excellent | $18,072 | Manageable |
| #2 | $55,090 | 39 | $12,950 | Excellent | $8,107 | Good | |
| #3 | $53,695 | 27 | $22,934 | Good | $14,224 | Manageable | |
| #4 | $50,800 | 42 | $20,500 | Good | $13,859 | Manageable | |
| #5 | $49,536 | 39 | $20,500 | Good | $15,265 | Challenging | |
| #6 | $49,232 | 51 | $19,500 | Good | $12,719 | Manageable | |
| #7 | $48,986 | 59 | $20,500 | Good | $26,632 | High | |
| #8 | $48,515 | 83 | $23,409 | Manageable | $18,080 | Challenging | |
| #9 | $47,846 | 21 | $18,000 | Good | $11,916 | Manageable | |
| #10 | Lamar UniversityPublic | $47,769 | 34 | $21,250 | Good | $11,359 | Challenging |
| #11 | $47,358 | 50 | $17,527 | Good | $12,313 | Manageable | |
| #12 | $46,692 | 16 | $23,000 | Manageable | $25,348 | High | |
| #13 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $46,387 | 63 | $21,500 | Manageable | $23,443 | High |
| #14 | $45,889 | 44 | $21,983 | Manageable | $19,433 | High | |
| #15 | $45,835 | 6 | $27,000 | Manageable | $16,012 | High | |
| #16 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $45,336 | 74 | $21,000 | Manageable | $22,500 | High |
| #17 | $45,198 | 186 | $19,250 | Good | $23,211 | High | |
| #18 | Texas Woman's UniversityPublic | $44,058 | 27 | $19,218 | Manageable | $13,471 | Challenging |
| #19 | $42,682 | 18 | $19,606 | Manageable | $17,125 | High | |
| #20 | $37,104 | 14 | $17,137 | Manageable | $15,463 | High | |
| #21 | Baylor UniversityPrivate | $33,026 | 27 | $23,000 | High | $50,786 | High |
| #22 | $29,685 | 9 | $15,000 | High | $8,721 | High | |
| #23 | $25,780 | 37 | $19,500 | High | $40,025 | High | |
| #24 | Texas Lutheran UniversityPrivate | $25,194 | 5 | $25,000 | High | $21,678 | High |
| #25 | $24,421 | 8 | $27,000 | High | $25,775 | 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 →