Musicat Michigan State University
Graduates earn $38,656/yr in their first year — about 37.0% above the national Music average. Base-case 10-year earnings $467K; scenarios range from $438K to $464K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Michigan State University
The strong outcomes for MSU Music reflect a program that effectively prepares students for diverse career paths beyond traditional performance. A significant factor is the robust demand for music educators within Michigan's K-12 school systems, where MSU has deep-seated recruiting pipelines and a strong reputation for producing highly capable teachers. Furthermore, the broader Detroit and regional arts scenes offer opportunities in sound engineering, arts administration, and even the burgeoning field of music therapy, areas where a comprehensive musical foundation is highly valued. You’ll find alumni in school districts across the state, at local recording studios, or managing community arts organizations. To maximize your potential, strategically combine your musical passion with secondary skills in areas like education, sound technology, or arts management, leveraging the full breadth of a large university.
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 Michigan State University'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 Michigan State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Michigan State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Michigan State 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 →Frequently asked about Music at Michigan State University
What does a 35/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Music at Michigan State University?
At 35/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Music programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Music at Michigan State University?
The 47% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.