Music at California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
29 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
29
Optimistic
29
Base Case
21
Pessimistic
Earnings $25,391/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,600 openings/yr)
ROI 14.6x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #121 of 240 Music programs Top 50%

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 $439K $444K $421K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.4x 14.6x 13.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.6x 5.7x 5.4x
Probability of Field Employment 35% 31% 24%
DegreeOutlook Score 29 29 21

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,408
Out-of-state: $77,928 (5.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$42,048
-38% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,241
9.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$32,255
27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $25,391 track close to the $28,116 national median for Music programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.6x 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 4% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $19,241 represents roughly 9 months of the $25,391 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #121 of 240 Music programs, California State University-Sacramento falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $25,391 to $32,255 over five years — a 27% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About California State University-Sacramento

California State University-Sacramento has a 94% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 27,867 students enrolled in Sacramento, CA. 49% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

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

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-Sacramento

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Music at California State University-Sacramento?
A score of 29/100 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 $421,081 in decade earnings vs $438,710 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →