Music: The University of Texas at Austin vs University of Houston

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
University of Houston
Houston, TX
In-State
11.0x
$46,712 tuition
13.5x
$38,844 tuition
Out-of-State
3.0x
$171,112 tuition
5.9x
$88,764 tuition
$513,025 10-yr earnings · Public
$524,884 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

The University of Texas at Austin University of Houston
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.0x 13.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.0x 5.9x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $46,712 $38,844
Year 1 Earnings $39,564 $52,799
10-Year Earnings $513K $525K
Median Debt $24,625 $25,000
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 7.5 months 5.7 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 42/100 50/100
Acceptance Rate 29.1% 69.5%

Both programs have high AI automation risk (47% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Music graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Music graduates.

The University of Texas at Austin University of Houston
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $46,712 $38,844
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $171,112 $88,764
10-Year Projected Earnings $513K $525K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.0x 13.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.0x 5.9x
5-Year Salary Growth +33% +11%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Music (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

The University of Texas at Austin University of Houston
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $515K $513K $474K $529K $525K $483K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 11.0x 11.0x 10.2x 13.6x 13.5x 12.4x
DegreeWorth Score 43 42 32 51 50 41

For the full AI analysis of Music career paths, see the The University of Texas at Austin or University of Houston program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Music graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$7,868
University of Houston saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$13,235/yr
University of Houston grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
11.0x / 13.5x
Out-of-state: 3.0x / 5.9x

Career Paths

Music graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80,190 9,000 +1.7% 44%
Sound engineering technicians $66,430 1,200 -1.7% 43%
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580 66,200 -1.6% 33%
Music directors and composers $63,670 4,300 -0.3% 71%
Musicians and singers N/A 19,400 +1.1% 41%
Disc jockeys, except radio N/A 1,500 +3.8% 53%
Want to compare different schools or majors? Try the freeform comparison tool →

Explore Each Program

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Music: The University of Texas at Austin or University of Houston?
The University of Texas at Austin scores 42/100 while University of Houston scores 50/100. University of Houston has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Music?
The University of Texas at Austin has an in-state earnings multiple of 11.0x vs University of Houston's 13.5x. That means University of Houston grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do The University of Texas at Austin and University of Houston compare on Music earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $39,564 at The University of Texas at Austin vs $52,799 at University of Houston. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $513,025 vs $524,884 — a difference of $11,859.
How much does Music cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $46,712 at The University of Texas at Austin and $38,844 at University of Houston. Median debt at graduation is $24,625 vs $25,000. Both programs lead to the same Music career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.