Top Music Programs in the West by Earnings (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Art & Design Colleges in the West
Regional list from Best Music Programs in the United States
This page ranks 59 Music programs in the West by median earnings of Music graduates four years after completing, highest first. Sonoma State University leads the list at $65,533, followed by University of Redlands at $59,275 and University of California-San Diego at $58,071.
Across the listed programs, the median is $39,920, with figures ranging from $65,533 to $11,481. For 13 of the 59 programs the earnings figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 73% of the list. University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally, and California State University-Los Angeles posts the lowest average net price at $3,967.
Metropolitan State University of Denver reports the highest admission rate at 99%, while University of California-Los Angeles is the most selective, admitting 9% of applicants.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sonoma State University · Rohnert Park, CA | $65,533 | $12,885 | $8,310 | 93.4% |
| Sonoma State University reports $65,533 in median earnings for its Music graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 33. | |||||
| 2 | University of Redlands · Redlands, CA | $59,275 | $30,031 | $28,287 | 82.7% |
| A private nonprofit university in Redlands, University of Redlands posts an average net price of $30,031 and median earnings of $59,275 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $58,071 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
| University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and admits 27% of applicants. | |||||
| 4 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas · Las Vegas, NV | $55,161 | $10,359 | $8,526 | 96.2% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $19,450 in federal loans at University of Nevada-Las Vegas, which reports median earnings of $55,161 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | Central Washington University · Ellensburg, WA | $51,008 | $18,476 | $11,846 | 90.6% |
| Central Washington University in Ellensburg posts an average net price of $11,846 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 6 | Biola University · La Mirada, CA | $50,781 | $31,495 | $27,144 | 74.4% |
| Biola University reports $50,781 in median earnings for its Music graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 20. | |||||
| 7 | University of Utah · Salt Lake City, UT | $49,240 | $16,200 | $13,123 | 86.0% |
| University of Utah ranks 7th on this list and posts an admission rate of 86%. | |||||
| 8 | San Francisco Conservatory of Music · San Francisco, CA | $49,186 | $42,607 | $55,704 | 54.9% |
| San Francisco Conservatory of Music reports median earnings of $49,186 for its Music graduates four years after completing, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $27,000 in federal loans. | |||||
| 9 | University of Denver · Denver, CO | $48,461 | $36,131 | $20,097 | 77.8% |
| University of Denver admits 78% of applicants and reports median earnings of $48,461 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 10 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $47,831 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
| California State University-Long Beach reports $47,831 in median earnings for its Music graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 86. | |||||
| 11 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $47,779 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
| University of California-Los Angeles admits 9% of applicants and ranks 22nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 12 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus · Denver, CO | $46,532 | $11,900 | $6,743 | 74.7% |
| A school-wide median federal debt of $20,500 across all of its borrowers who completed coincides with median earnings of $46,532 for Music graduates at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus four years after completing. | |||||
| 13 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA | $44,910 | $11,531 | $7,851 | 75.2% |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona reports median earnings of $44,910 for its Music graduates four years after completing, with 36 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 14 | Northern Arizona University · Flagstaff, AZ | $43,792 | $14,158 | $9,709 | 89.6% |
| A public university in Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University ranks 14th on this list and posts an admission rate of 90%. | |||||
| 15 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $43,120 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
| University of California-Irvine ranks 12th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows median earnings of $43,120 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 16 | University of the Pacific · Stockton, CA | $43,093 | $25,447 | $17,004 | 71.3% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left University of the Pacific with a median of $19,500 in federal loans, while the school's Music graduates earned a median of $43,093 four years after completing. | |||||
| 17 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $42,774 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
| California State University-Sacramento carries an average net price of $9,338 and reports median earnings of $42,774 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 18 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $42,269 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% |
| With 61 graduates in the earnings cohort, California State University-Chico posts median earnings of $42,269 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 19 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $42,090 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
| San Diego State University admits 36% of applicants and reports median earnings of $42,090 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 20 | Chapman University · Orange, CA | $41,698 | $46,555 | $33,559 | 65.4% |
| A private nonprofit institution, Chapman University shows an average net price of $46,555 and median earnings of $41,698 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 21 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion · Tempe, AZ | $41,610 | $14,967 | $9,070 | 89.9% |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion ranks 21st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Music graduates earned a median of $41,610 four years after completing. | |||||
| 22 | University of Puget Sound · Tacoma, WA | $41,207 | $38,394 | $23,643 | 72.3% |
| University of Puget Sound reports median earnings of $41,207 for its Music graduates four years after completing, with a median federal debt of $25,000 across all of the school's borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 23 | Washington State University · Pullman, WA | $41,181 | $14,971 | $7,074 | 86.6% |
| Washington State University posts an admission rate of 87% and median earnings of $41,181 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 24 | Oregon State University · Corvallis, OR | $41,073 | $19,604 | $12,107 | 77.3% |
| Oregon State University reports median earnings of $41,073 for its Music graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $19,604. | |||||
| 25 | University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ | $40,922 | $16,674 | $13,353 | 86.1% |
| University of Arizona ranks 25th on this list, with median earnings of $40,922 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 26 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $40,669 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at California State University-Northridge left with a median of $13,872 in federal loans, and the school's Music completers report median earnings of $40,669 four years after completing. | |||||
| 27 | California Institute of the Arts · Valencia, CA | $40,294 | $46,080 | $26,686 | 32.3% |
| A private nonprofit institution in Valencia, California Institute of the Arts admits 32% of applicants and posts an average net price of $46,080. | |||||
| 28 | California State University-Monterey Bay · Seaside, CA | $40,077 | $13,663 | $9,970 | 97.4% |
| California State University-Monterey Bay ranks 134th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $40,077 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 29 | University of Oregon · Eugene, OR | $39,928 | $22,182 | $15,909 | 88.3% |
| With an admission rate of 88%, University of Oregon shows median earnings of $39,928 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 30 | Montana State University · Bozeman, MT | $39,920 | $22,499 | $17,797 | 82.1% |
| Montana State University ranks 30th on this list and carries an average net price of $22,499, alongside median federal debt of $22,500 across all of the school's borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 31 | California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA | $39,590 | $6,555 | $3,315 | 90.5% |
| California State University-Fullerton reports an average net price of $6,555 and median earnings of $39,590 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 32 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins · Fort Collins, CO | $39,414 | $21,279 | $13,259 | 88.5% |
| Ranking 200th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, Colorado State University-Fort Collins posts median earnings of $39,414 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 33 | California State University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $39,120 | $3,967 | $2,877 | 91.3% |
| California State University-Los Angeles ranks 33rd on this list and reports an average net price of $2,877 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 34 | Metropolitan State University of Denver · Denver, CO | $38,957 | $15,327 | $12,481 | 98.8% |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver admits 99% of applicants and shows median earnings of $38,957 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 35 | Western Washington University · Bellingham, WA | $38,858 | $21,193 | $12,915 | 93.3% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Western Washington University left with a median of $18,500 in federal loans, and the school's Music completers report median earnings of $38,858 four years after completing. | |||||
| 36 | University of Colorado Boulder · Boulder, CO | $38,701 | $25,346 | $14,231 | 78.1% |
| University of Colorado Boulder ranks 36th on this list, with an admission rate of 78% and median earnings of $38,701 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 37 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $38,639 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 96.4% |
| San Francisco State University reports $38,639 in median earnings for its Music graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $12,278. | |||||
| 38 | University of Northern Colorado · Greeley, CO | $37,749 | $17,760 | $12,695 | 85.9% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at University of Northern Colorado left with a median of $20,470 in federal loans, and the school ranks 38th on this list. | |||||
| 39 | Northwest University · Kirkland, WA | $37,112 | $22,288 | $17,996 | 83.2% |
| A private nonprofit institution in Kirkland, Northwest University admits 83% of applicants and posts median earnings of $37,112 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 40 | Southern Oregon University · Ashland, OR | $36,201 | $16,732 | $11,830 | 88.6% |
| Southern Oregon University ranks 40th on this list and shows an average net price of $11,830 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 41 | Portland State University · Portland, OR | $34,160 | $9,552 | $7,655 | 90.9% |
| With an admission rate of 91%, Portland State University reports $34,160 in median earnings for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 42 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $34,124 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
| University of Southern California ranks 92nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Music graduates earn a median of $34,124 four years after completing. | |||||
| 43 | University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA | $33,825 | $16,109 | $9,231 | 33.0% |
| With 30 graduates in the earnings cohort, University of California-Santa Barbara reports median earnings of $33,825 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 44 | California Lutheran University · Thousand Oaks, CA | $32,316 | $30,109 | $22,161 | 75.7% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at California Lutheran University left with a median of $21,669 in federal loans, and the school's Music graduates earn a median of $32,316 four years after completing. | |||||
| 45 | The University of Montana · Missoula, MT | $29,685 | $16,784 | $13,960 | 95.9% |
| The University of Montana admits 96% of applicants and shows an average net price of $13,960 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 46 | Brigham Young University · Provo, UT | $29,483 | $15,564 | $10,444 | 67.8% |
| Brigham Young University ranks 27th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Music graduates earn a median of $29,483 four years after completing. | |||||
| 47 | University of Idaho · Moscow, ID | $29,227 | $14,831 | $11,270 | 75.5% |
| University of Idaho reports $29,227 in median earnings for its Music graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $14,831. | |||||
| 48 | Colorado State University Pueblo · Pueblo, CO | $27,476 | $10,051 | $9,374 | 94.9% |
| With an admission rate of 95%, Colorado State University Pueblo shows an average net price of $9,374 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 49 | University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA | $26,353 | $17,890 | $8,717 | 65.8% |
| University of California-Santa Cruz posts median earnings of $26,353 for its Music graduates four years after completing, and its average net price is $17,890. | |||||
| 50 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt · Arcata, CA | $25,194 | $13,171 | $8,483 | 98.2% |
| With an admission rate of 98%, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt ranks 50th on this list and reports $25,194 in median earnings for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 51 | Seattle Pacific University · Seattle, WA | $25,194 | $24,488 | $20,735 | 83.4% |
| Seattle Pacific University, a private nonprofit university in Seattle, reports median earnings of $25,194 for its Music graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $24,488. | |||||
| 52 | Azusa Pacific University · Azusa, CA | $24,615 | $22,212 | $15,781 | 88.4% |
| Azusa Pacific University ranks 481st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $24,615 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 53 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $24,369 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
| University of California-Berkeley admits 11% of applicants and reports median earnings of $24,369 for its Music graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $13,481. | |||||
| 54 | University of Nevada-Reno · Reno, NV | $24,035 | $15,927 | $12,674 | 73.7% |
| An average net price of $15,927 coincides with median earnings of $24,035 for Music graduates of University of Nevada-Reno four years after completing. | |||||
| 55 | Pacific Lutheran University · Tacoma, WA | $24,035 | $19,589 | $13,609 | 78.0% |
| Pacific Lutheran University ranks 55th on this list, with median earnings of $24,035 for its Music graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $19,589. | |||||
| 56 | Eastern Washington University · Cheney, WA | $21,964 | $13,886 | $9,547 | 90.8% |
| With an admission rate of 91%, Eastern Washington University reports median earnings of $21,964 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 57 | Whitworth University · Spokane, WA | $19,227 | $26,534 | $16,788 | 89.8% |
| Whitworth University reports median earnings of $19,227 for its Music graduates four years after completing, and its average net price is $26,534. | |||||
| 58 | University of New Mexico-Main Campus · Albuquerque, NM | $18,771 | $15,489 | $11,938 | 95.2% |
| University of New Mexico-Main Campus ranks 150th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $18,771 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 59 | University of California-Riverside · Riverside, CA | $11,481 | $14,304 | $8,852 | 76.4% |
| Median earnings of $11,481 for Music graduates four years after completing place University of California-Riverside 59th on this list, alongside an average net price of $14,304. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Music graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figure is the median for federally aided completers of the program who were working and not enrolled, measured after completing. For 13 of the 59 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 gap between Sonoma State University and University of Redlands is $6,258, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $54,052.