Home › CUNY City College › Music

Music at CUNY City College

New York, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
30
Optimistic
30
Base Case
26
Pessimistic
Earnings $19,145/yr (-32% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,600 openings/yr)
ROI 17.1x earnings multiple (8.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #115 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 $502K $501K $465K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.1x 17.1x 15.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.2x 8.2x 7.6x
Probability of Field Employment 35% 31% 24%
DegreeOutlook Score 30 30 26

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,360
Out-of-state: $61,160 (8.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$13,944
53% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,637
13.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$40,856
113% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $19,145 per year, Music graduates from CUNY City College earn below the $28,116 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 17.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,637 debt load exceeds a year of the $19,145 starting salary, suggesting a multi-year repayment window before graduates break even financially.

Ranked #115 out of 240 programs, CUNY City College's Music offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $19,145 to $40,856 over five years (113% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About CUNY City College

CUNY City College accepts 58% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with a mid-sized student body of 11,934 in New York, NY. With 60% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $13,944 over four years — 53% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at CUNY City College →

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

Compare this program → View all 240 schools offering Music →

Music at Other Schools

Sam Houston State University ($59,926) The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ($56,373) Texas A & M University-Kingsville ($56,072) The University of Texas at El Paso ($56,062) University of Houston ($52,799) Texas A & M University-Commerce ($52,282) Texas State University ($51,158) West Texas A & M University ($50,881)

Other Majors at CUNY City College

Computer Science ($83,258) Computer Engineering ($78,326) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,172) Chemical Engineering ($67,450) Civil Engineering ($67,194) Mechanical Engineering ($65,905) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($62,945) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($56,711)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Music trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does CUNY City College's Music program score?
This program scores 30/100 — on the lower end for Music. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do CUNY City College Music graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.1x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
How vulnerable is Music to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Music careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Music earnings lower at CUNY City College?
Lower starting pay at CUNY City College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
How affordable is Music at CUNY City College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $29,360, but the average net cost is $13,944 — a 53% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →