Musicat University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Graduates earn $13,128/yr in their first year — about 53.0% below the national Music average. Base-case 10-year earnings $476K; scenarios range from $446K to $474K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UIUC
The financial data here paints a challenging picture, reflecting the highly competitive and often non-linear career paths common in the arts. While the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's School of Music is a respected institution with strong academic and performance traditions, many music graduates find their early careers involve a portfolio of activities rather than a single high-paying role. You might be teaching private lessons, performing gigs, composing for local projects, or working in related fields like sound engineering or arts administration to build a sustainable income. The local Champaign-Urbana job market isn't a major hub for the commercial music industry, meaning many graduates either relocate to larger cities or leverage their skills in diverse, often entrepreneurial ways. To thrive, consider actively networking and developing complementary skills—like business, marketing, or advanced digital production—alongside your musical talents to carve out your niche.
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 UIUC'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 UIUC stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UIUC
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UIUC, 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 UIUC
How does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Music program score?
This program scores 18/100 — on the lower end for Music. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Music graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.8x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
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 are Music earnings lower at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
Lower starting pay at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.