Music at California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
26 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
26
Optimistic
26
Base Case
19
Pessimistic
Earnings $23,969/yr (-15% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,600 openings/yr)
ROI 14.9x earnings multiple (5.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #143 of 240 Music programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Music graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $415K $423K $404K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.7x 14.9x 14.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.5x 5.6x 5.3x
Probability of Field Employment 35% 31% 24%
DegreeOutlook Score 26 26 19

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,292
Out-of-state: $75,812 (5.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$22,584
20% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,000
9.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$26,392
10% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $23,969/yr, Music graduates from California State University-Fullerton land near the $28,116 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Music programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Music's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 2% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $18,000 represents roughly 9 months of the $23,969 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #143 of 240 Music programs, California State University-Fullerton falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $26,392 are relatively flat compared to the $23,969 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About California State University-Fullerton

With 87% of applicants admitted, California State University-Fullerton prioritizes broad access, with 36,956 students enrolled in Fullerton, CA. With 47% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Fullerton →

Top Career Paths

Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80,190/yr
Sound engineering technicians $66,430/yr
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Music at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Fullerton

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Music at California State University-Fullerton?
A score of 26/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Music. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Music careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $404,306 in decade earnings vs $414,554 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →