Compare 78 Music. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $32,574.
With top graduates earning $47,898, Music stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $15K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Eastern Illinois University's Music program leads with graduates earning $47,898, followed by Luther College at $44,566. The average across all 78 Midwest programs is $32,574, yet regional publics like University of Nebraska at Kearney ($44,201) demonstrate that strong outcomes come from program quality, not institutional brand.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Eastern Illinois University graduates borrow $21,500 and face just an 11.6% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. That means loan payments take a manageable bite out of their post-grad income, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45.
Highest program earnings: $47,898
Strong outcomes with 68% acceptance
11.6% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
22.5% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $47,898 | 13 | $21,500 | Good | $17,781 | Challenging | |
| #2 | Luther CollegePrivate | $44,566 | 52 | $27,000 | Manageable | $40,923 | High |
| #3 | $44,201 | 8 | $19,500 | Manageable | $14,457 | Challenging | |
| #4 | $44,067 | 44 | $20,909 | Manageable | $12,452 | Challenging | |
| #5 | $43,920 | 11 | $23,199 | Manageable | $14,621 | High | |
| #6 | $42,953 | 25 | $23,188 | Manageable | $18,635 | High | |
| #7 | Truman State UniversityPublic | $42,934 | 23 | $21,000 | Manageable | $14,503 | High |
| #8 | Capital UniversityPrivate | $42,856 | 41 | $26,889 | Challenging | $28,132 | High |
| #9 | $42,752 | 16 | $27,000 | Challenging | $23,103 | High | |
| #10 | Ball State UniversityPublic | $42,268 | 19 | $23,250 | Manageable | $20,800 | High |
| #11 | $42,061 | 38 | $25,251 | Manageable | $20,764 | High | |
| #12 | $41,360 | 21 | $21,000 | Manageable | $25,798 | High | |
| #13 | St Olaf CollegePrivate | $40,048 | 50 | $26,000 | Challenging | $40,568 | High |
| #14 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $39,940 | 98 | $15,000 | Good | $26,966 | High |
| #15 | $39,633 | 12 | $26,847 | Challenging | $29,471 | High | |
| #16 | University Of IowaPublic | $39,491 | 46 | $22,500 | Challenging | $27,975 | High |
| #17 | $39,009 | 12 | $22,500 | Challenging | $16,958 | High | |
| #18 | $38,589 | 65 | $23,250 | Challenging | $37,401 | High | |
| #19 | Wheaton CollegePrivate | $38,034 | 26 | $23,250 | Challenging | $35,000 | High |
| #20 | $37,981 | 42 | $20,482 | Challenging | $28,767 | High | |
| #21 | $37,353 | 36 | $24,500 | Challenging | $26,392 | High | |
| #22 | $37,335 | 35 | $21,056 | Challenging | $23,508 | High | |
| #23 | Otterbein UniversityPrivate | $37,081 | 12 | $26,000 | Challenging | $39,500 | High |
| #24 | Indiana State UniversityPublic | $36,998 | 26 | $24,000 | Challenging | $17,049 | High |
| #25 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $36,529 | 26 | $23,168 | Challenging | $41,563 | 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 →
