Music at California Institute of the Arts

CalArts' music program costs $23,125 in median debt but delivers earnings barely above $18,800—a figure that doesn't budge between the first and fourth years after graduation. While CalArts' prestige draws talented students (26% admission rate), graduates from San Francisco State earn 67% more, and even California State schools consistently place their music grads above $27,000. Among California music programs, CalArts lands at the 40th percentile—middle of the pack in a state where it's competing with both cheaper public universities and peer conservatories.

The debt load itself is slightly below both state and national medians, but when earnings plateau under $19,000, even modest debt becomes burdensome. That 1.22 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates are carrying more than a year's salary in loans while making poverty-level wages. Nationally, CalArts ranks in just the 16th percentile for music program earnings, suggesting this pattern isn't unique to California's cost of living.

For families considering CalArts' conservatory environment, understand you're likely paying for artistic training and connections rather than near-term earning potential. If your child needs this specific artistic community and you can afford to support them post-graduation, that's one calculation. But if they're taking on significant debt expecting music performance income to service it, the numbers show that's wishful thinking.