Music at Brigham Young University

BYU's Music program starts slow but gains momentum, with graduates seeing their earnings jump 45% from $22,625 in year one to $32,723 by year four. That growth trajectory eventually pushes earnings above both the state median ($23,968) and approaches the national benchmark ($26,036), though it takes time to get there. The starting salary lands this program in the 40th percentile among Utah music programs—solidly middle-of-the-pack in a state where the University of Utah leads at $42,548.

The financial picture here is genuinely compelling: at $10,460 in median debt, BYU graduates carry less than half what the typical music major owes nationally ($26,000). That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 means even with modest starting salaries, graduates can manage their loans comfortably—roughly five months of first-year income to cover the total debt load. This is exceptional for an arts degree, where debt burdens typically create more pressure.

For families concerned about the starving artist stereotype, this program offers a realistic path forward. Your child will need to navigate lean early years, but the combination of minimal debt and steady earnings growth creates breathing room that most music graduates don't get. The church-affiliated tuition structure essentially buys career flexibility that higher-debt peers won't have.