Music at Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi

This program trails nearly every music degree in Texas, with four-year earnings of $46,692 landing in just the 10th percentile statewide—far below Texas A&M-Kingsville's $56,072 and the state median of $47,010. Even regional peers like UT Rio Grande Valley produce graduates earning $10,000 more annually. That gap compounds over a career, making this one of the weaker options in a state with 59 music programs.

The earnings trajectory tells an unusual story: graduates start at just $22,833 but more than double their income by year four. While that 105% growth sounds impressive, the late start means catching up to peers who began earning $30,000-$40,000 from day one. With $26,544 in debt—roughly a year's starting salary—the early years will be financially tight, though the debt burden eases considerably as earnings accelerate.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes these numbers less reliable than larger programs, but the pattern is concerning enough to warrant serious alternatives. If your child is committed to studying music in Texas, compare this program directly to UT El Paso or Sam Houston State, where graduates see stronger starting salaries and avoid the steep earnings climb. This degree may work for students with family support during those lean early years, but financially independent graduates will struggle.