Music at Lebanon Valley College

Lebanon Valley College's music graduates start strong—unusually strong. That first-year median of $49,383 places this program at the 95th percentile both nationally and among Pennsylvania's 49 music programs. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift dramatically year to year. More concerning is what happens next: earnings drop nearly 20% by year four, falling to $39,962. This pattern suggests some graduates may be finding decent initial positions but struggling to build sustainable careers in music-related fields.

The debt picture is reasonable at $26,846, sitting below the median for both state and nation. With that first-year salary, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54 looks manageable—if graduates can maintain something closer to those initial earnings. The real question is whether that dramatic salary decline represents career uncertainty or just reflects graduates transitioning between positions. For context, the next-highest Pennsylvania program (Slippery Rock) shows first-year earnings of $37,660 without the same drop-off pattern.

Given the small cohort, these numbers may not represent what your child would experience. If they're seriously considering music at Lebanon Valley, dig into career outcomes at the individual level—talk to recent alumni, understand what specific paths lead to those stronger initial salaries, and whether those positions offer long-term stability. The program shows potential, but the sample is too small and the earnings trajectory too unstable to view this as a clear win.