Music at Texas State University

San Marcos, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
48 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
49
Optimistic
48
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $51,158/yr (82% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,600 openings/yr)
ROI 11.4x earnings multiple (5.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #12 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 $525K $522K $481K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.5x 11.4x 10.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.7x 5.6x 5.2x
Probability of Field Employment 35% 31% 24%
DegreeOutlook Score 49 48 38
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$45,800
Out-of-state: $92,840 (5.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$65,752
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
5.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,050
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $51,158 put Texas State University's Music program 82% above the national median of $28,116 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Music programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Music's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $51,158 far exceeding the $23,250 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #12 of 240 nationally, this is a top-5% Music program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

About Texas State University

Texas State University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 34,547 students in San Marcos, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Texas 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

Compare Music

Other Majors at Texas 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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Music at Texas State University?
A score of 48/100 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 $481,215 in decade earnings vs $525,312 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Texas State University's Music program stand out?
Ranked #12 of 240 programs nationally, Texas State University lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →