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Music at Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,586/yr (-2% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (101,600 openings/yr)

ROI 13.6x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #50 of 240 Music programs Top 25%

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	$518K	$516K	$476K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.6x	13.6x	12.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.5x	4.4x	4.1x
Probability of Field Employment	35%	31%	24%
DegreeOutlook Score	37	37	29

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,024

Out-of-state: $116,168 (4.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$50,396

-33% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,083

8.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$48,653

76% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $27,586 track close to the $28,116 national median for Music programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 13.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,083 debt-to-$27,586 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #50 out of 240 programs, Middle Tennessee State University's Music program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $27,586 to $48,653 over five years (76% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Middle Tennessee State University

With a 68% acceptance rate, Middle Tennessee State University is moderately selective, enrolling 16,115 students in Murfreesboro, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at Middle Tennessee State University →

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 Middle Tennessee State University

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 Middle Tennessee State University's Music program score?

This program scores 37/100 — 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 does Middle Tennessee State University rank so high for Music?

The #50 ranking out of 240 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →