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Music at Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $44,635/yr (59% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 12.4x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #18 of 240 Music programs Top 10%

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	$499K	$499K	$463K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.4x	12.4x	11.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.2x	6.2x	5.8x
Probability of Field Employment	35%	31%	24%
DegreeOutlook Score	45	45	33

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$40,336

Out-of-state: $80,464 (6.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$56,828

-41% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,250

4.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (4 Year)

$36,814

Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $44,635 put Tennessee Technological University's Music program 59% above the national median of $28,116 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.4x 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 7% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $44,635 far exceeding the $15,250 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #18 of 240 programs, Tennessee Technological University's Music program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

About Tennessee Technological University

Tennessee Technological University accepts 83% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 8,495 in Cookeville, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at Tennessee Technological University →

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

Compare Music

Other Majors at Tennessee Technological University

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 Tennessee Technological University?

A score of 45/100 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 $463,169 in decade earnings vs $499,324 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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