Music at Miami University-Oxford

Miami University's music program reports first-year earnings of just $19,353—significantly below both national and state benchmarks. This places graduates in the bottom 10% of Ohio music programs and the bottom fifth nationally. The state comparison is particularly striking: Ohio's median music graduate earns $33,015, meaning Miami's figure comes in at barely half that amount. Even accounting for the program's small sample size (under 30 graduates), this gap is concerning.

The $27,000 in median debt isn't unusually high for the field, but paired with such low initial earnings, it creates a debt-to-income ratio of 1.40—meaning graduates owe more than their entire first year's salary. While music careers often develop non-linearly and earnings can grow substantially over time, starting this far behind other Ohio programs creates financial pressure during the early career years when it matters most.

The small sample size here matters considerably—with fewer than 30 graduates measured, a handful of outcomes can swing these numbers dramatically. It's possible this cohort includes several students still pursuing graduate school or taking gap-year positions that don't reflect their longer-term trajectory. Before dismissing this program entirely, look closely at career placement data and talk to the department about typical post-graduation paths. If most graduates are working in music-adjacent fields or continuing their education, these first-year numbers may not tell the full story.