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Music at University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $22,125/yr (-21% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 10.0x earnings multiple (3.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #113 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	$555K	$548K	$502K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.1x	10.0x	9.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.1x	3.1x	2.8x
Probability of Field Employment	35%	31%	24%
DegreeOutlook Score	31	30	25

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$54,988

Out-of-state: $178,096 (3.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$56,052

-2% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,000

10.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,858

130% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $22,125/yr fall 21% below the $28,116 national median for Music. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 10.0x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,000 represents roughly 11 months of the $22,125 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #113 of 240 Music programs, University of California-Los Angeles scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $50,858 show a 130% jump from the $22,125 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-Los Angeles

University of California-Los Angeles admits 9% of applicants — among the most selective institutions in the country, with 33,040 students enrolled in Los Angeles, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Los Angeles →

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 University of California-Los Angeles

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 University of California-Los Angeles?

A score of 30/100 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 $501,517 in decade earnings vs $554,547 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Music from University of California-Los Angeles?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

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