Music at Oklahoma City University

Oklahoma City University's music program produces graduates earning $18,784 in their first year—about 28% below the national median for music degrees and slightly below even Oklahoma's state median of $19,144. That places it in the 15th percentile nationally but roughly middle-of-the-pack among Oklahoma's 21 music programs. The concerning part isn't just where graduates start, but that even after four years, earnings only reach $23,283, still well below what typical music graduates earn nationally right out of school.

The debt load of $26,456 is actually close to national norms for music programs, but paired with first-year earnings under $19,000, it creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.41. For perspective, University of Tulsa's music graduates earn $32,000+ initially with similar debt burdens, demonstrating that higher performance is achievable within Oklahoma. The 24% earnings growth over four years shows some trajectory, but graduates are essentially spending their mid-twenties catching up to where peers from stronger programs began.

For families considering this program: unless your child has compelling reasons to attend OCU specifically (particular faculty, performance opportunities, or scholarship aid that significantly reduces that $26,456 debt load), the financial foundation here is weak. Music degrees rarely lead to high earnings anywhere, but this program underperforms even modest expectations for the field.