Music at University of Puget Sound

Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
19 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
19
Optimistic
19
Base Case
12
Pessimistic
Earnings $25,551/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,600 openings/yr)
ROI 1.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #211 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 $460K $463K $436K
Earnings Multiple 1.9x 1.9x 1.8x
Probability of Field Employment 35% 31% 24%
DegreeOutlook Score 19 19 12

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$239,600
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$155,680
35% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
12.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$36,824
44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $25,551 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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 against $25,551/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.1 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #211 of 240 Music programs, University of Puget Sound falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $25,551 to $36,824 over five years — a 44% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Puget Sound

University of Puget Sound has a 76% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a smaller institution with 1,631 students in Tacoma, WA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $155,680 — 35% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Puget Sound →

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 Puget Sound

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 Puget Sound?
A score of 19/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Music. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Music at University of Puget Sound worth the student debt?
Median debt of $27,000 against $25,551/yr starting salary means roughly 1.1 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 $435,943 in decade earnings vs $460,115 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →