Musicat Montana State University
Graduates earn $38,807/yr in their first year — about 38.0% above the national Music average. Base-case 10-year earnings $489K; scenarios range from $455K to $488K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Montana State University
Montana State's music program, situated in the unique and growing Bozeman economy, prepares graduates to thrive by adapting musical skills to diverse opportunities. While traditional performance and composition roles exist, many find success in education, sound engineering, or even the burgeoning local event and tourism industries, where a strong foundation in music is highly valued. The program may emphasize practical applications, equipping you with versatile skills that extend beyond the stage, particularly in fields like audio production, where the demand for skilled technicians remains robust. Your high earnings potential likely stems from this adaptability and a regional market that rewards entrepreneurial musicians. As AI reshapes creative fields, focusing on the interpersonal aspects of teaching or the technical mastery of sound engineering will be key to your long-term career resilience.
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 Montana 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 Montana State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Montana State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Montana 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 Montana State University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Music at Montana State University?
A score of 45/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Music. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Music careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $455,351 in decade earnings vs $488,064 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.