Home Schools Lipscomb University Music
Visual & Performing Arts · Music Rank #202 of 240

Musicat Lipscomb University

Graduates earn $19,352/yr in their first year — about 31.0% below the national Music average. Base-case 10-year earnings $408K; scenarios range from $393K to $399K depending on AI disruption.

Nashville, TN Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
20 AT RISK
21
Optimistic
16
Pessimistic
Earnings
$19,352
1-year post-graduation
ROI
0.2x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$408K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
49% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Lipscomb University

Lipscomb's location in "Music City" is a double-edged sword. While Nashville offers unparalleled access to the music industry, it also means immense competition. Many graduates find themselves vying for roles in a saturated market, often starting in lower-paying positions like local church music, private teaching, or entry-level production work, where initial compensation can be modest. The program, as part of a private university, likely offers a broader liberal arts approach to music education, which may not always directly pipeline into the most lucrative, immediate industry roles compared to more vocational conservatories. Success here often demands relentless networking and a diverse skill set beyond performance or composition. To maximize your prospects, focus on developing complementary, in-demand skills like audio engineering, digital marketing, or business management alongside your musical craft.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$393K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score16/100
Earnings Multiple2.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$408K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score20/100
Earnings Multiple2.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$399K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score21/100
Earnings Multiple2.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Lipscomb University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Music graduates typically work

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.

1
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
+1.7% 10-yr growth · 9,000 openings/yr
$80,190/yr
Moderate
2
Sound engineering technicians
-1.7% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$66,430/yr
Moderate
3
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
-1.6% 10-yr growth · 66,200 openings/yr
$64,580/yr
Moderate
4
Music directors and composers
-0.3% 10-yr growth · 4,300 openings/yr
$63,670/yr
Very High
5
Musicians and singers
+1.1% 10-yr growth · 19,400 openings/yr
Moderate
6
Disc jockeys, except radio
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 1,500 openings/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Music

How Lipscomb University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Sam Houston State University
TX · Public
51
DW Score
$60K
1-yr earn
11.9x
ROI
Top score
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
TX · Public
57
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
14.2x
ROI
Texas A & M University-Kingsville
TX · Public
57
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
14.3x
ROI
The University of Texas at El Paso
TX · Public
51
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
13.4x
ROI
University of Houston
TX · Public
55
DW Score
$53K
1-yr earn
14.1x
ROI
Also at Lipscomb University

Other top programs at Lipscomb University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Lipscomb University, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Music at Lipscomb University

How does Lipscomb University's Music program score?

This program scores 20/100 — 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 Lipscomb University?

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