Musicat University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Graduates earn $22,272/yr in their first year — about 21.0% below the national Music average. Base-case 10-year earnings $447K; scenarios range from $423K to $442K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Michigan
While the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre & Dance is renowned for its artistic rigor and excellent faculty, it's crucial to understand the unique career landscape for music graduates. Many alumni pursue passion-driven roles in performance, composition, or academia, where financial success often builds over time through a "portfolio career" approach – blending freelance gigs, private instruction, and part-time arts administration. Ann Arbor supports a vibrant local arts scene, but it's not a primary hub for the broader music industry, which can affect initial salary potential compared to major metro areas. The high AI risk reflects the evolving nature of sound production and composition tools, requiring adaptability. To thrive, you'll need to actively cultivate a diverse skill set, network aggressively within your chosen niche, and be prepared for a career path that prioritizes artistic fulfillment and requires entrepreneurial drive.
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 University of Michigan'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 University of Michigan stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Michigan
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Michigan, 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 University of Michigan
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Music at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor?
A score of 22/100 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 $423,379 in decade earnings vs $442,019 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Music from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor?
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.