Music at Ohio University-Zanesville Campus

Ohio University-Zanesville's Music program earns its place among Ohio's top performers, delivering first-year earnings of $36,252—well above both the state median ($33,015) and the national benchmark ($26,036). That 60th percentile ranking within Ohio becomes more impressive when you see it's in the 83rd percentile nationally, and graduates carry just $27,000 in debt with a manageable 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's the kind of math that makes a creative degree feel financially viable.

The earnings trajectory stays reassuringly stable, growing modestly to $37,335 by year four. While this isn't the explosive growth you'd see in some technical fields, it reflects the reality of arts careers—steady employment matters more than dramatic salary jumps. The relatively low debt load (25th percentile nationally) means graduates aren't handicapped by payments while building their careers, whether they're teaching, performing, or working in music-adjacent fields.

For an anxious parent, here's what matters: this program delivers music education outcomes comparable to Ohio University's main campus branches, but at a regional campus price point. Your child gets better-than-average earning potential for music graduates without the debt burden that often makes creative degrees financially precarious. It won't make them rich, but it positions them for sustainable work in a field they're passionate about.