Compare 117 Music. programs in the South. Average earnings: $34,409.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Music tells a different story. Across 117 programs in the South, earnings range from $45,835 to $61,014—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
At the top, Vanderbilt produces Music graduates earning $61,014, followed by UNC Chapel Hill at $57,343. But here's the key insight: University of Houston ($55,639) matches these outcomes with a 70% acceptance rate, proving that accessible programs can compete with elite institutions when evaluated on actual results.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Vanderbilt graduates borrow $14,000 and face just a 5.0% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.23.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $61,014 | 50 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Manageable |
| #2 | $57,343 | 47 | $14,000 | Excellent | $25,072 | Manageable | |
| #3 | University Of HoustonPublic | $55,639 | 66 | $18,194 | Excellent | $18,072 | Manageable |
| #4 | $55,090 | 39 | $12,950 | Excellent | $8,107 | Good | |
| #5 | $53,695 | 27 | $22,934 | Good | $14,224 | Manageable | |
| #6 | $50,800 | 42 | $20,500 | Good | $13,859 | Manageable | |
| #7 | $49,536 | 39 | $20,500 | Good | $15,265 | Challenging | |
| #8 | $49,244 | 36 | $20,654 | Good | $31,890 | High | |
| #9 | $49,232 | 51 | $19,500 | Good | $12,719 | Manageable | |
| #10 | $48,986 | 59 | $20,500 | Good | $26,632 | High | |
| #11 | $48,515 | 83 | $23,409 | Manageable | $18,080 | Challenging | |
| #12 | $47,846 | 21 | $18,000 | Good | $11,916 | Manageable | |
| #13 | Lamar UniversityPublic | $47,769 | 34 | $21,250 | Good | $11,359 | Challenging |
| #14 | $47,358 | 50 | $17,527 | Good | $12,313 | Manageable | |
| #15 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $46,916 | 55 | $19,500 | Good | $25,142 | High |
| #16 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $46,899 | 77 | $20,093 | Good | $37,285 | High |
| #17 | $46,692 | 16 | $23,000 | Manageable | $25,348 | High | |
| #18 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $46,387 | 63 | $21,500 | Manageable | $23,443 | High |
| #19 | $45,889 | 44 | $21,983 | Manageable | $19,433 | High | |
| #20 | $45,835 | 6 | $27,000 | Manageable | $16,012 | High | |
| #21 | Murray State UniversityPublic | $45,349 | 30 | $20,500 | Manageable | $18,465 | High |
| #22 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $45,336 | 74 | $21,000 | Manageable | $22,500 | High |
| #23 | $45,198 | 186 | $19,250 | Good | $23,211 | High | |
| #24 | Auburn UniversityPublic | $44,916 | 29 | $21,000 | Manageable | $43,605 | High |
| #25 | $44,549 | 30 | $20,346 | Manageable | $16,180 | Challenging |
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 →
