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Music at SUNY at Purchase College

Purchase, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $17,887/yr (-36% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (101,600 openings/yr)

ROI 12.6x earnings multiple (6.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #181 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	$446K	$451K	$426K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.5x	12.6x	11.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.9x	6.0x	5.7x
Probability of Field Employment	35%	31%	24%
DegreeOutlook Score	23	22	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)

$35,812

Out-of-state: $75,452 (6.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$76,268

-113% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,379

13.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$31,045

74% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $17,887 place SUNY at Purchase College below the $28,116 national median for Music — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 12.6x 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 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,379 debt load exceeds a year of the $17,887 starting salary, suggesting a multi-year repayment window before graduates break even financially.

At #181 out of 240 programs, SUNY at Purchase College's financial outcomes for Music trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $17,887 to $31,045 over five years (74% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About SUNY at Purchase College

SUNY at Purchase College accepts 73% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 3,110 students in Purchase, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at SUNY at Purchase 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

Music at Other Schools

Other Majors at SUNY at Purchase College

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

How does SUNY at Purchase College's Music program score?

This program scores 22/100 — on the lower end for Music. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

Do SUNY at Purchase 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 SUNY at Purchase College?

Lower starting pay at SUNY at Purchase College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →