Music at California State University-Fullerton

Cal State Fullerton's music program lands squarely in the middle of California's music scene—ranking at the 60th percentile statewide while coming in below the national median. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing significantly year to year, but the pattern they show is worth noting: graduates earn $23,969 in their first year, then see earnings drop to $20,354 by year four. That's unusual even for arts programs, where income typically grows as performers build their careers and teaching opportunities expand.

The manageable debt load of $20,469 offers some protection against these modest earnings. At 85 cents of debt for every dollar earned in the first year, recent graduates face a more reasonable repayment burden than the typical music major nationwide (where median debt exceeds $26,000). Still, earning just above California's state median for music means your child would be competing with the reality that even top-performing in-state programs like San Francisco State ($31,621) and Cal State Monterey Bay ($28,009) show significantly stronger earnings outcomes.

For a family considering this path, the key question is career trajectory. If your child has a clear plan—whether that's graduate school, a particular performance niche, or leveraging music alongside another field—the relatively low debt creates flexibility. But the declining earnings pattern suggests many graduates struggle to gain financial traction in their first four years, and that's a challenge worth discussing seriously before committing.