Music at Albright College

With only $21,285 in first-year earnings—about $6,000 below Pennsylvania's median for music programs—Albright's music degree places graduates in the bottom quarter of both state and national outcomes. That's roughly half what Lebanon Valley College music graduates earn, and $16,000 less than what Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania grads make. The $27,000 debt load matches state norms but creates an uncomfortable 1.27 debt-to-earnings ratio when paired with these modest starting salaries.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with more data, but the pattern is consistent: this program underperforms its Pennsylvania peers by a significant margin. For reference, even programs at public universities like Indiana University of Pennsylvania produce notably stronger earnings outcomes. Music is rarely a path to high early-career earnings, but graduates need enough income to manage their student loans—and $21,285 creates real financial stress when paired with typical monthly payments.

If your child is set on studying music in Pennsylvania, you'll find stronger employment outcomes at multiple state schools and comparable private institutions. Unless Albright offers specific faculty connections or performance opportunities unavailable elsewhere, the financial fundamentals suggest looking at alternatives where music graduates clear at least the state median of $27,226.