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# Top Music Programs in Texas by Earnings (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Best Art & Design Colleges in Texas](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-texas/)

This page ranks the 27 Music programs in Texas by median earnings of Music graduates four years after completing. [The University of Texas at El Paso](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-el-paso/majors/) leads the list at $60,172, followed by [The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley](/school/the-university-of-texas-rio-grande-valley/majors/) at $59,218 and [The University of Texas at Arlington](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-arlington/majors/) at $59,198.

The median across the listed schools is $52,870, with figures ranging from $60,172 to $24,421.

Public institutions account for 21 of the 27 programs, alongside 6 private nonprofits. The University of Texas at Arlington ranks 8th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Texas A & M International University posts the lowest average net price at $3,637.

## The ranked list

27 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | The University of Texas at El Paso · El Paso, TX | $60,172 | $9,403 | $7,863 | 99.9% |
|  | A public university in El Paso, [The University of Texas at El Paso](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-el-paso/majors/) ranks 1st on this list with [median earnings of $60,172](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-el-paso/outcomes/) for its Music graduates four years after completing. |
| 2 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · Edinburg, TX | $59,218 | $4,831 | $3,785 | 94.2% |
|  | [The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley](/school/the-university-of-texas-rio-grande-valley/majors/) posts an [average net price of $4,831,](/school/the-university-of-texas-rio-grande-valley/cost/) and its Music graduates four years after completing earn a median of $59,218. |
| 3 | The University of Texas at Arlington · Arlington, TX | $59,198 | $13,951 | $11,893 | 79.9% |
|  | [The University of Texas at Arlington](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-arlington/majors/) holds the strongest Azimuth composite rank on this list, 8th among nonprofit four-year institutions, alongside [median earnings of $59,198](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-arlington/outcomes/) for its Music graduates four years after completing. |
| 4 | Sam Houston State University · Huntsville, TX | $58,743 | $16,404 | $12,474 | 90.3% |
|  | [Sam Houston State University](/school/sam-houston-state-university/majors/) reports [median federal debt of $25,630](/school/sam-houston-state-university/cost/) among Music completers who borrowed, and its graduates four years after completing earn a median of $58,743. |
| 5 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville · Kingsville, TX | $57,117 | $12,090 | $10,207 | 90.9% |
|  | [Texas A&M University-Kingsville](/school/texas-am-university-kingsville/majors/) [admits 91% of applicants](/school/texas-am-university-kingsville/admissions/) and shows median earnings of $57,117 for its Music graduates four years after completing. |
| 6 | Texas Tech University · Lubbock, TX | $57,043 | $19,070 | $12,457 | 72.7% |
|  | Median earnings for Music graduates four years after completing reach $57,043 at [Texas Tech University](/school/texas-tech-university/majors/), which also reports an [average net price of $19,070](/school/texas-tech-university/cost/). |
| 7 | Texas Woman's University · Denton, TX | $56,884 | $11,963 | $9,948 | 96.1% |
|  | An [average net price of $9,948](/school/texas-womans-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 coincides with median earnings of $56,884 for Music graduates four years after completing at [Texas Woman's University](/school/texas-womans-university/majors/). |
| 8 | Tarleton State University · Stephenville, TX | $56,671 | $20,783 | $15,574 | 89.6% |
|  | [Tarleton State University](/school/tarleton-state-university/majors/) shows [median federal debt of $26,200](/school/tarleton-state-university/cost/) among Music completers who borrowed, and its graduates four years after completing earn a median of $56,671. |
| 9 | University of Houston · Houston, TX | $56,667 | $14,276 | $10,929 | 73.9% |
|  | [University of Houston](/school/university-of-houston/majors/) ranks 9th on this list, with [median earnings of $56,667](/school/university-of-houston/outcomes/) for its Music graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 74%. |
| 10 | University of North Texas · Denton, TX | $55,705 | $15,649 | $12,311 | 72.2% |
|  | With an earnings cohort of 227 graduates, [University of North Texas](/school/university-of-north-texas/majors/) reports [median earnings of $55,705](/school/university-of-north-texas/outcomes/) for its Music graduates four years after completing. |
| 11 | East Texas A&M University · Commerce, TX | $55,438 | $11,841 | $9,709 | 92.2% |
|  | [East Texas A&M University](/school/east-texas-am-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $9,709](/school/east-texas-am-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, and its Music graduates four years after completing earn a median of $55,438. |
| 12 | Lamar University · Beaumont, TX | $53,904 | $9,366 | $7,568 | 86.4% |
|  | [Lamar University](/school/lamar-university/majors/) reports [median federal debt of $20,768](/school/lamar-university/cost/) among Music completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $53,904 for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 13 | The University of Texas at San Antonio · San Antonio, TX | $53,878 | $10,836 | $7,870 | 86.8% |
|  | [The University of Texas at San Antonio](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-san-antonio/majors/) reports [median earnings of $53,878](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-san-antonio/outcomes/) for its Music graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $10,836. |
| 14 | Texas A & M International University · Laredo, TX | $52,870 | $3,637 | $3,097 | 44.4% |
|  | With an [average net price of $3,637,](/school/texas-a-m-international-university/cost/) [Texas A & M International University](/school/texas-a-m-international-university/majors/) ranks 14th on this list and posts a median of $52,870 for its Music graduates four years after completing. |
| 15 | Stephen F Austin State University · Nacogdoches, TX | $52,341 | $14,260 | $10,318 | 94.0% |
|  | [Stephen F Austin State University](/school/stephen-f-austin-state-university/majors/) [admits 94% of applicants](/school/stephen-f-austin-state-university/admissions/) and its Music completers who borrowed left with a median of $26,000 in federal loans. |
| 16 | Texas State University · San Marcos, TX | $52,320 | $16,805 | $12,715 | 89.3% |
|  | [Texas State University](/school/texas-state-university/majors/) [ranks 40th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/texas-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Music graduates four years after completing earned a median of $52,320. |
| 17 | West Texas A & M University · Canyon, TX | $48,656 | $19,487 | $16,525 | 98.7% |
|  | [West Texas A & M University](/school/west-texas-a-m-university/majors/) ranks 17th on this list, and its Music completers who borrowed left with a [median of $22,500](/school/west-texas-a-m-university/outcomes/) in federal loans. |
| 18 | The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX | $47,164 | $19,857 | $12,553 | 26.6% |
|  | [The University of Texas at Austin](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-austin/majors/), a public university in Austin, reports [median earnings of $47,164](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-austin/outcomes/) for its Music graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 27%. |
| 19 | The University of Texas at Tyler · Tyler, TX | $45,651 | $13,323 | $10,307 | 94.0% |
|  | [The University of Texas at Tyler](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-tyler/majors/) ranks 19th on this list, with [median earnings of $45,651](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-tyler/outcomes/) for its Music graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $13,323. |
| 20 | Baylor University · Waco, TX | $40,017 | $41,104 | $22,024 | 51.3% |
|  | [Baylor University](/school/baylor-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $41,104,](/school/baylor-university/cost/) and its Music completers who borrowed left with a median of $26,500 in federal loans. |
| 21 | Texas Wesleyan University · Fort Worth, TX | $38,289 | $24,066 | $21,812 | 69.2% |
|  | Texas Wesleyan University ranks 837th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Music graduates four years after completing earned a median of $38,289. |
| 22 | Prairie View A & M University · Prairie View, TX | $29,685 | $13,570 | $12,120 | 79.3% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 79%](/school/prairie-view-a-m-university/admissions/), [Prairie View A & M University](/school/prairie-view-a-m-university/majors/) reports median earnings of $29,685 for its Music graduates four years after completing. |
| 23 | Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi · Corpus Christi, TX | $28,598 | $15,225 | $11,445 | 88.6% |
|  | [Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi](/school/texas-a-m-university-corpus-christi/majors/) ranks 23rd on this list, with an [average net price of $15,225](/school/texas-a-m-university-corpus-christi/cost/) and median earnings of $28,598 for its Music graduates four years after completing. |
| 24 | Dallas Baptist University · Dallas, TX | $27,181 | $28,516 | $25,326 | 88.8% |
|  | Dallas Baptist University admits 89% of applicants, and its Music graduates four years after completing earned a median of $27,181. |
| 25 | Southern Methodist University · Dallas, TX | $25,194 | $40,892 | $23,544 | 63.4% |
|  | [Southern Methodist University](/school/southern-methodist-university/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Dallas, reports [median earnings of $25,194](/school/southern-methodist-university/outcomes/) for its Music graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 30. |
| 26 | Texas Lutheran University · Seguin, TX | $25,194 | $24,654 | $20,512 | 95.7% |
|  | Texas Lutheran University admits 96% of applicants and shows an average net price of $24,654, alongside median earnings of $25,194 for Music graduates four years after completing. |
| 27 | University of the Incarnate Word · San Antonio, TX | $24,421 | $22,775 | $19,260 | 98.1% |
|  | [University of the Incarnate Word](/school/university-of-the-incarnate-word/majors/) ranks 27th on this list and carries an [average net price of $19,260](/school/university-of-the-incarnate-word/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, with a cohort of 5 graduates in the earnings cohort. |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Music graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in Texas appear. The figure reflects federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 7 of the 27 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 27 schools with a published figure. The gap between first-ranked The University of Texas at El Paso and second-ranked The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $954.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Music Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-music-programs/)
-   [Top Music Programs in California by Earnings](/rankings/best-music-programs-in-california/)
-   [Top Music Programs in Florida by Earnings](/rankings/best-music-programs-in-florida/)
-   [Top Music Programs in New York by Earnings](/rankings/best-music-programs-in-new-york/)
-   [Top Music Programs in Michigan by Earnings](/rankings/best-music-programs-in-michigan/)
-   [Best Art & Design Colleges in Texas](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-texas/)