Music at Biola University

Biola's music program shows an unusual earnings pattern that deserves careful consideration. Fresh graduates earn just $19,978—below both the national and California medians—but by year four, median earnings jump to $50,875. This dramatic 155% growth is remarkable, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift significantly with more data. The debt load of $26,417 is close to typical for music degrees, and while manageable against the four-year earnings figure, it represents more than a year's salary for recent graduates.

Within California's competitive music landscape, this program sits near the middle of the pack, performing better than half of in-state options but trailing schools like San Francisco State ($31,621 starting) by a considerable margin. That first-year gap matters because it's when loan payments typically begin. The strong four-year earnings suggest some graduates find their footing—perhaps in music ministry, education, or church positions that align with Biola's Christian mission—but the initial financial struggle is real.

For families banking on immediate financial independence after graduation, this program requires patience and likely parental support through those early years. The small sample size also means you can't reliably predict whether your child will follow the median trajectory or land in a very different position.