Music at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
43
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,277/yr (36% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,600 openings/yr)
ROI 10.0x earnings multiple (3.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #23 of 240 Music programs Top 10%

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 $519K $517K $477K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.1x 10.0x 9.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.8x 3.8x 3.5x
Probability of Field Employment 35% 31% 24%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 43 31

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,584
Out-of-state: $135,004 (3.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$81,328
-58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,837
8.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,174
39% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Music program earn $38,277/yr in their first year — 36% above the $28,116 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

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 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,837 represents roughly 8 months of the $38,277 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #23 of 240 programs, Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Music program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $38,277 to $53,174 over five years — a 39% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Colorado State University-Fort Collins has a 90% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 25,148 students enrolled in Fort Collins, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Colorado State University-Fort Collins →

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 Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Music at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?
A score of 43/100 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 $477,147 in decade earnings vs $519,450 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →