Music at Rutgers University-Camden

Rutgers-Camden's music program launches graduates into the top tier of music bachelor's programs—ranking in the 85th percentile nationally and 80th percentile within New Jersey. With first-year earnings of $36,707, graduates earn 41% more than the national median for music majors and 38% more than the typical New Jersey music graduate. They match the earnings of Rutgers' flagship New Brunswick campus, significantly outpacing nearby alternatives like Rowan ($32,781) and Montclair State ($27,977).

The debt load of $26,000 is manageable relative to these strong initial earnings, with a debt-to-income ratio of 0.71—well within reasonable bounds for a music degree. However, the earnings trajectory reveals a concerning pattern: by year four, median earnings drop to $34,223, a 7% decline. This could reflect graduates pursuing ensemble positions, teaching careers with summer income gaps, or freelance work cycles typical in the arts. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) means individual career paths can swing these numbers significantly.

For families accepting that music careers rarely follow traditional earning curves, Rutgers-Camden offers something valuable: a program that positions graduates among the highest-earning music majors while keeping debt reasonable. The combination of strong institutional resources at an accessible campus (78% admission rate, serving a substantial Pell-eligible population) creates opportunities that less-supported music programs can't match. Just recognize you're paying for competitive positioning in a field where earnings often peak early or fluctuate.