Musicat Sam Houston State University
Graduates earn $59,926/yr in their first year — about 113.0% above the national Music average. Base-case 10-year earnings $553K; scenarios range from $505K to $560K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State’s Music program offers a unique value proposition, particularly for a regional public university. The strong outcomes you see are often driven by graduates leveraging the robust labor market in Texas, especially with Houston's proximity. This provides a diverse ecosystem for music professionals, from well-funded public school districts seeking educators to a thriving arts scene and recording industry needing sound engineers and performers. SHSU's program likely cultivates versatile musicians, preparing you not just for a single performance path, but for the varied demands of teaching, directing, and technical roles. Many graduates successfully build careers by combining stable teaching positions with performance gigs or studio work, creating a multifaceted income stream. To maximize your potential, actively network within the Houston-area music and education scene from day one, exploring diverse internships and gig opportunities.
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 Sam Houston 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 Sam Houston State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Sam Houston State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Sam Houston 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 Sam Houston State University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Music at Sam Houston State University?
A score of 51/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Music field.
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 $505,471 in decade earnings vs $560,240 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Sam Houston State University's Music program stand out?
Ranked #6 of 240 programs nationally, Sam Houston State University lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.