Music at Boston University

Boston University's music program graduates earn just under $24,000 their first year—roughly on par with the Massachusetts median but trailing the national benchmark by about $2,000. Given BU's 11% admission rate and 1473 average SAT, these outcomes fall short of what you'd expect from such a selective institution. The $27,000 debt load is manageable in absolute terms and actually lower than most music programs, but with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.13, graduates face more than a year's salary in loans while earning less than some community college certificate holders.

The state context reveals something important: this program ranks in the 60th percentile among Massachusetts music programs, meaning it outperforms about half of in-state alternatives. But look at UMass Lowell—their music graduates earn nearly $12,000 more annually with likely lower tuition costs. Even accounting for BU's network and resources, that's a substantial gap.

The critical caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates reported data, so these numbers could swing significantly with just a few data points. For a parent, the question is whether BU's brand and connections justify the premium over state schools when the early earnings don't reflect that advantage. If your child is serious about performance or teaching, those first-year numbers might not capture the full career trajectory, but this data suggests the investment may not pay off quickly.