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Music at Stephen F Austin State University

Nacogdoches, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $47,318/yr (68% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 12.3x earnings multiple (6.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #5 of 240 Music programs Top 5%

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	$527K	$523K	$482K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.4x	12.3x	11.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.4x	6.3x	5.8x
Probability of Field Employment	35%	31%	24%
DegreeOutlook Score	52	52	41

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$42,400

Out-of-state: $82,720 (6.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$60,608

-43% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,000

6.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$57,180

21% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $47,318 per year, Music graduates from Stephen F Austin State University significantly outpace the $28,116 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The 12.3x 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 $26,000 debt-to-$47,318 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

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

The five-year earnings trajectory from $47,318 to $57,180 shows 21% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Stephen F Austin State University

With 88% of applicants admitted, Stephen F Austin State University prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 8,746 in Nacogdoches, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Stephen F Austin 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

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Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Stephen F Austin State University's Music program score?

This program scores 52/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Music graduates.

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 Stephen F Austin State University rank so high for Music?

The #5 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 →