Music at Metropolitan State University of Denver

Metropolitan State's music program shows a dramatic earnings trajectory that tells two different stories depending on when you measure. That first-year figure of $19,797 ranks in just the 25th percentile among Colorado music programs—well below the state median of $26,944 and trailing programs at Colorado State ($38,277) and CU Denver ($29,483) by substantial margins. However, by year four, earnings jump 80% to $35,697, actually surpassing the national 75th percentile.

The debt load of $30,971 is slightly higher than both state and national medians for music degrees, though the initial debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.56 looks more manageable than it would at many music programs. The real question is what drives that steep earnings curve—whether it reflects students building careers slowly in music-adjacent fields or finding their footing in the gig economy after graduation. For a 99% admission rate school serving many Pell Grant recipients, this accessibility matters.

The small sample size is a significant limitation here. With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, a few outliers could skew these numbers substantially. If your child is serious about music and needs an affordable entry point to higher education, Metro State serves that purpose—but they should plan on those lean early years and have realistic expectations about building income gradually rather than landing a stable music career immediately after graduation.