Music at Southern Methodist University

SMU's music program graduates earn less than half what their peers make at other Texas schools—just $25,780 four years out versus the state median of $47,010. That 10th percentile ranking among Texas programs is striking, especially when public universities like UT El Paso and Sam Houston State are placing music graduates into careers earning over $55,000. Even accounting for SMU's stronger academic profile (1424 average SAT), these outcomes lag dramatically behind state peers.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $18,417, graduates borrow about 30% less than both national and state medians. With earnings near $26,000 and modest debt, the financial burden is manageable, though the 0.80 debt-to-earnings ratio still means nearly a full year's salary goes toward loans. The 11% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests graduates are finding their footing, but they're starting from an unusually low base for someone with an SMU degree.

The critical caveat: this data represents fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary significantly. Still, paying private university tuition for public university earnings—or less—demands serious conversation about career plans. If your child is pursuing performance or arts administration, understand they'll likely need graduate training or be building a portfolio career. The lower debt helps, but this program's earnings gap within Texas is too large to ignore.