Where Northeastern University Oakland Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all music bachelors's programs nationally
Earnings Over Time
How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation
| School | 1 Year | 4 Years | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern University Oakland | — | $45,222 | — |
| Biola University | $19,978 | $50,875 | +155% |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | $20,887 | $50,200 | +140% |
| University of California-Los Angeles | $22,125 | $34,625 | +56% |
| Chapman University | $14,538 | $33,946 | +133% |
Compare to Similar Programs in California
Music bachelors's programs at peer institutions in California (77 total in state)
| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Northeastern University OaklandOakland | $63,949 | $21,551* | $45,222 | $26,568 | — |
 San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco | $7,424 | $31,621* | — | $15,000 | 0.47 |
 The Master's University and SeminarySanta Clarita | $36,930 | $31,340* | — | $25,334 | 0.81 |
 California State University-Monterey BaySeaside | $7,437 | $28,009* | — | $18,920 | 0.68 |
 California State University-San BernardinoSan Bernardino | $7,675 | $27,724* | — | — | — |
 San Francisco Conservatory of MusicSan Francisco | $54,550 | $26,916* | $21,320 | $27,000 | 1.00 |
| National Median | — | $26,036* | — | $26,000 | 1.00 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with music graduates
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Music Directors and Composers
Music Directors
Music Composers and Arrangers
Sound Engineering Technicians
Musicians and Singers
Singers
Musicians, Instrumental
Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 24 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.