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Music at California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $18,226/yr (-35% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 16.6x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #138 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	$469K	$472K	$442K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.5x	16.6x	15.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.2x	6.2x	5.8x
Probability of Field Employment	35%	31%	24%
DegreeOutlook Score	27	27	23

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$28,380

Out-of-state: $75,900 (6.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$30,396

-7% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,000

9.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$35,153

93% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Northridge's Music graduates start at $18,226/yr, trailing the $28,116 national average by 35%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 16.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $15,000 debt-to-$18,226 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #138 out of 240 programs, California State University-Northridge's financial outcomes for Music trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $18,226 to $35,153 over five years (93% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Northridge

A 93% acceptance rate means California State University-Northridge is accessible to most applicants, one of the larger campuses at 32,357 students in Northridge, CA. With 56% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Northridge →

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 California State University-Northridge

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Northridge's Music program score?

This program scores 27/100 — on the lower end for Music. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Music to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Music careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why are Music earnings lower at California State University-Northridge?

Lower starting pay at California State University-Northridge may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

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