Music at University of North Texas

UNT's music program puts graduates in a puzzling position: they're earning well above the national average for music majors ($31,450 versus $26,036 after one year), yet they're dramatically underperforming compared to other Texas music programs. That 10th percentile ranking in-state is striking—graduates from Sam Houston State, UT Rio Grande Valley, and even UT El Paso are earning nearly double what UNT music grads make initially.

The good news is the earnings trajectory. That 44% jump from year one to year four suggests UNT graduates are finding their footing in the industry, reaching $45,198 by the four-year mark. The debt load of $24,456 is manageable relative to first-year earnings, with a 0.78 debt-to-earnings ratio that's better than many arts programs nationally.

For Texas families considering music programs in-state, though, this data demands explanation. UNT's College of Music has a strong reputation, so this earnings gap likely reflects career paths rather than program quality—perhaps more graduates pursuing performance or education careers rather than the higher-paying music industry jobs that other Texas programs' grads secure. If your child is set on UNT specifically, understand they'll likely start lower than peers at other Texas schools, though the strong earnings growth suggests the investment pays off with time.