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Visual & Performing Arts · Music Rank #236 of 240

Musicat Stetson University

Graduates earn $15,905/yr in their first year — about 43.0% below the national Music average. Base-case 10-year earnings $441K; scenarios range from $418K to $435K depending on AI disruption.

DeLand, FL Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
14 AT RISK
14
Optimistic
11
Pessimistic
Earnings
$15,905
1-year post-graduation
ROI
0.3x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$441K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
49% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Stetson University

The financial data for Stetson's music program suggests a challenging path, with graduates often earning less than their peers nationally. This isn't necessarily a reflection of the program's quality, but rather the realities of a competitive field in a specific regional market. DeLand, while home to a respected university, isn't a primary hub for the music industry, meaning direct career pipelines can be less robust than in larger metropolitan areas. Many graduates find themselves in education or the gig economy, where income can be variable. The high AI risk further complicates the landscape, suggesting future roles may require adapting to new technologies or specializing in areas less susceptible to automation. If you pursue this path, actively build a diverse portfolio and network extensively, perhaps even considering a minor or dual degree in a complementary field to broaden your career prospects and financial stability from day one.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$418K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score11/100
Earnings Multiple1.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$441K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score14/100
Earnings Multiple2.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$435K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score14/100
Earnings Multiple2.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Stetson University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Music graduates typically work

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.

1
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
+1.7% 10-yr growth · 9,000 openings/yr
$80,190/yr
Moderate
2
Sound engineering technicians
-1.7% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$66,430/yr
Moderate
3
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
-1.6% 10-yr growth · 66,200 openings/yr
$64,580/yr
Moderate
4
Music directors and composers
-0.3% 10-yr growth · 4,300 openings/yr
$63,670/yr
Very High
5
Musicians and singers
+1.1% 10-yr growth · 19,400 openings/yr
Moderate
6
Disc jockeys, except radio
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 1,500 openings/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Music

How Stetson University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Sam Houston State University
TX · Public
51
DW Score
$60K
1-yr earn
11.9x
ROI
Top score
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
TX · Public
57
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
14.2x
ROI
Texas A & M University-Kingsville
TX · Public
57
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
14.3x
ROI
The University of Texas at El Paso
TX · Public
51
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
13.4x
ROI
University of Houston
TX · Public
55
DW Score
$53K
1-yr earn
14.1x
ROI
Also at Stetson University

Other top programs at Stetson University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Stetson 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Music at Stetson University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Music at Stetson University?

A score of 14/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Music. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Is Music at Stetson University worth the student debt?

Median debt of $26,000 against $15,905/yr starting salary means roughly 1.6 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.

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 $418,408 in decade earnings vs $434,864 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Music from Stetson University?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Is Stetson University a hidden gem for Music?

After financial aid, the average student pays $85,272 over four years — 61% below the $220,880 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.