Music at DePaul University

DePaul's music program produces troubling outcomes that rank near the bottom statewide—10th percentile among Illinois music programs—with first-year earnings of just $19,155. That's $9,000 below the Illinois median and nearly $7,000 below the national average for music degrees. Even other Illinois public universities like Northern Illinois and Eastern Illinois deliver roughly double the first-year earnings, raising questions about whether DePaul's private school tuition premium translates into meaningful career advantages.

The 91% earnings jump by year four suggests graduates eventually find better opportunities, reaching $36,529. However, that still barely exceeds what some peer institutions deliver right out of the gate. The $23,334 debt load is actually slightly below both state and national medians, which provides some relief, but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.22 means graduates owe more than they'll earn their first year—a difficult starting position for arts careers that often require flexibility and risk-taking.

The small sample size here demands caution, as results could shift significantly year-to-year. But the consistent pattern of underperformance relative to other Illinois music programs suggests systemic issues rather than statistical noise. Parents should seriously consider why comparable or better-regarded programs across Illinois are producing substantially stronger early-career outcomes at potentially lower cost.