Music at Middle Tennessee State University

Middle Tennessee State University's music program shows something unusual for arts degrees: meaningful earnings growth after graduation. While starting salaries of $27,586 are typical for music majors, graduates see their income jump 39% by year four to $38,385—well above both the national and state medians for music programs. Among Tennessee's 35 music programs, MTSU lands in the 60th percentile, outearning competitors like University of Memphis while trailing specialized programs at Tennessee Tech or Austin Peay.

The financial picture is manageable but not exceptional. Graduates carry $22,608 in debt—below the national average but slightly higher than Tennessee's median for music programs. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82 means initial earnings almost match the debt load, which is reasonable for an arts degree. What matters more here is the trajectory: by year four, graduates are earning 1.7 times their debt, a significantly better position than most music majors achieve.

For families concerned about the stereotypical "starving artist" outcome, MTSU's track record offers some reassurance. The robust sample size confirms these aren't outlier results, and the steady income growth suggests graduates are finding paths to sustainable careers in or adjacent to music. This won't lead to high-paying careers quickly, but it appears to provide a foundation that improves notably with time in the workforce.