Music at Rollins College

Rollins College's music program starts graduates at $20,745—well below both the national average ($26,036) and even the Florida median ($21,588). While the 40th percentile ranking among Florida programs suggests this isn't dramatically worse than state peers, graduates from nearby UCF and UF earn more from day one, and programs at Florida International and Full Sail bring in 20% higher starting salaries.

The $27,000 debt load itself isn't unusual for music degrees, but it means new graduates face payments equal to 130% of their first-year income. That's a tough spot when you're trying to establish yourself in music, whether through performance, teaching, or arts administration. The 42% earnings growth by year four does show meaningful progress, reaching $29,384, though this still trails the national median by several thousand dollars.

For families paying Rollins' private college tuition rates (only 22% of students receive Pell grants, suggesting higher family incomes), this creates a challenging equation. If your child is passionate about music and Rollins offers a particularly strong fit for networking or specialized training, the investment might make sense. But purely from a financial perspective, Florida's public universities deliver comparable or better outcomes at significantly lower cost. Consider whether the Rollins premium—smaller classes, specific faculty connections—justifies starting your music career with steeper debt than you'd carry from a state school.