Musicat University of South Carolina-Columbia
Graduates earn $38,657/yr in their first year — about 37.0% above the national Music average. Base-case 10-year earnings $497K; scenarios range from $462K to $497K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of South Carolina
The strong outcomes for USC-Columbia's music graduates highlight a program that effectively prepares students for diverse, practical careers beyond traditional performance. This isn't just about raw talent; it reflects a curriculum likely emphasizing marketable skills in areas like music education, sound engineering, or composition for media. As a major public university, USC benefits from extensive alumni networks and established pipelines into regional school districts, arts organizations, and event production companies across South Carolina. Graduates often find stable roles teaching, or apply technical audio skills in local studios and broadcast environments. This broader preparation allows you to leverage your musical passion into fields with consistent demand and better compensation. Your key takeaway: actively explore and engage with the career services and internship opportunities specific to these in-demand music-related fields.
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 South Carolina'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 South Carolina stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of South Carolina
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of South Carolina, 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 South Carolina
How does University of South Carolina-Columbia's Music program score?
This program scores 40/100 — on the lower end for Music. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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 does University of South Carolina-Columbia rank so high for Music?
The #41 ranking out of 240 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.