Music at University of Missouri-Columbia

Music graduates from Mizzou earn nearly $10,000 more than the typical music major nationally—a meaningful advantage that places this program in the 82nd percentile nationwide. The $35,939 first-year salary substantially exceeds both the national median of $26,036 and Missouri's state median of $33,078. While this program ranks at the 60th percentile within Missouri (trailing slightly behind peer institution UM-St. Louis), it still delivers competitive outcomes for a notoriously challenging field.

The debt picture looks manageable: at $27,000, graduates borrow just slightly above the national median but carry a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75—meaning they owe less than a year's salary. For music majors, who typically face difficult early-career economics, this represents a relatively favorable financial position. The combination of above-average earnings and moderate debt suggests graduates can realistically service their loans while pursuing musical careers.

The significant caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates reported data, so individual circumstances could skew these numbers considerably. Still, if your child is serious about music and considering in-state options, Mizzou appears to prepare graduates better than most programs for the financial realities of a music career. The flagship university's resources and connections seem to translate into an earnings edge worth noting.