Music at Elmhurst University

Elmhurst's music program graduates earn substantially less than their peers across Illinois—landing in just the 25th percentile among 46 in-state programs. That first-year median of $21,759 falls $6,000 below the state average and nearly $21,000 behind Northern Illinois University's music grads. While earnings do improve significantly to $32,032 by year four (a solid 47% jump), graduates still trail the typical Illinois music major at that point.

The debt burden here deserves serious attention. At $28,125, it exceeds both state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.29 in that crucial first year. Compare this to what music majors at nearby public universities are earning—Eastern Illinois and Illinois State both deliver substantially higher outcomes with similar debt loads. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift year to year, but the pattern of underperformance relative to state peers is hard to ignore.

For a music degree that costs above-average debt to obtain, this program delivers below-average results. Unless your child has compelling reasons to attend Elmhurst specifically—perhaps a particular instructor or performance opportunity—the state's public universities appear to offer better value for aspiring musicians. The earnings trajectory improves over time, but the starting point creates real financial strain that better-performing programs in Illinois help graduates avoid.