Music at San Francisco Conservatory of Music

San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
20 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
20
Optimistic
20
Base Case
12
Pessimistic
Earnings $26,916/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,600 openings/yr)
ROI 1.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #195 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 $417K $425K $406K
Earnings Multiple 1.9x 1.9x 1.9x
Probability of Field Employment 35% 31% 24%
DegreeOutlook Score 20 20 12

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$218,200
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$169,792
22% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
12.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$27,321
2% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $26,916 track close to the $28,116 national median for Music programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The financial case is thin at 1.9x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 3% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 against $26,916/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.0 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #195 of 240 Music programs, San Francisco Conservatory of Music falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $27,321 are relatively flat compared to the $26,916 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About San Francisco Conservatory of Music

With a 52% acceptance rate, San Francisco Conservatory of Music is moderately selective, a smaller institution with 215 students in San Francisco, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at San Francisco Conservatory of Music →

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

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 San Francisco Conservatory of Music?
A score of 20/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Music. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Music at San Francisco Conservatory of Music worth the student debt?
Median debt of $27,000 against $26,916/yr starting salary means roughly 1.0 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
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 $405,749 in decade earnings vs $416,633 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →