Musicat CUNY City College
Graduates earn $19,145/yr in their first year — about 32.0% below the national Music average. Base-case 10-year earnings $501K; scenarios range from $465K to $502K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at CUNY City College
While City College provides an affordable pathway into New York's unparalleled music scene, the early career landscape here is intensely competitive. This program often cultivates versatile musicians and educators, but the city's vast talent pool means securing stable, higher-paying roles can take time. Many graduates initially navigate freelance work, community arts, or K-12 teaching positions, which typically offer more modest compensation before specialized or post-secondary roles emerge. The program's generalist approach, common in public institutions, emphasizes broad musical development over the direct industry pipelines often found in conservatories. Additionally, the increasing impact of AI in music production and composition adds another layer of competition. To enhance your prospects, focus on developing a unique niche, building robust professional networks early, and consider pairing your musical passion with business or technical skills to stand out.
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 CUNY City College'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 CUNY City College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at CUNY City College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at CUNY City College, 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 CUNY City College
How does CUNY City College's Music program score?
This program scores 30/100 — on the lower end for Music. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do CUNY City College Music graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.1x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
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 CUNY City College?
Lower starting pay at CUNY City College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
How affordable is Music at CUNY City College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $29,360, but the average net cost is $13,944 — a 53% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.