Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $21,592 place University of California-San Diego below the $28,116 national median for Music — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.4x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
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.
Median debt of $19,500 represents roughly 11 months of the $21,592 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #146 of 240 Music programs, University of California-San Diego falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $44,134 show a 104% jump from the $21,592 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.