Musicat California State University-Long Beach
Graduates earn $18,352/yr in their first year — about 35.0% below the national Music average. Base-case 10-year earnings $405K; scenarios range from $390K to $395K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at CSU Long Beach
The financial picture for CSULB Music reflects the intensely competitive and often non-traditional career landscape inherent to the arts, particularly in a high-cost-of-living region like Southern California. Many roles in music, especially performance, composition, or local teaching, are gig-based or part-time, leading to variable income. While the Long Beach area offers a vibrant arts scene and proximity to the entertainment industry, competition is fierce, and entry-level positions may not offer traditional salaries. Many graduates find themselves freelancing, teaching private lessons, or working in related fields that may not fully utilize their degree but provide stability. To thrive, you'll need to actively diversify your skills, perhaps incorporating music technology, business acumen, or pursuing teaching credentials, and relentlessly network to create your own opportunities rather than relying on established pipelines.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to CSU Long Beach's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Music
How CSU Long Beach stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at CSU Long Beach
Other highest-scoring programs offered at CSU Long Beach, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Music offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Music trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Music at CSU Long Beach
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Music at California State University-Long Beach?
A score of 26/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Music. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Music at California State University-Long Beach worth the student debt?
Median debt of $21,050 against $18,352/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 $390,461 in decade earnings vs $394,615 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Music from California State University-Long Beach?
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.