Music at Luther College

Decorah, IA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
32 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
32
Optimistic
32
Base Case
20
Pessimistic
Earnings $45,367/yr (61% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,600 openings/yr)
ROI 2.4x earnings multiple
Ranked #92 of 240 Music programs Top 50%

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 $490K $490K $456K
Earnings Multiple 2.4x 2.4x 2.3x
Probability of Field Employment 35% 31% 24%
DegreeOutlook Score 32 32 20

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$201,280
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$102,540
49% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
7.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,981
6% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $45,367 per year, Music graduates from Luther College significantly outpace the $28,116 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

An earnings multiple of 2.4x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$45,367 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #92 out of 240 programs, Luther College's Music offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $45,367 to $47,981 over five years (6% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Luther College

With 73% of applicants admitted, Luther College prioritizes broad access, a smaller institution with 1,454 students in Decorah, IA. The average net cost of $102,540 over four years represents a 49% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Luther College →

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 Luther College

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 Luther College's Music program score?
This program scores 32/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →