Music at Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
43
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings
$26,135/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk
High (47% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (101,600 openings/yr)
ROI
28.8x earnings multiple (15.3x out-of-state)
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 | $521K | $481K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 28.9x | 28.8x | 26.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 15.4x | 15.3x | 14.1x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 35% | 31% | 24% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 43 | 43 | 35 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$18,128
Out-of-state: $34,128 (15.3x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,000
11.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,930
87% growth from Year 1
About Western Carolina University
Western Carolina University accepts 87% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 9,867 students in Cullowhee, NC.
See all programs and financial aid at Western Carolina 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
Compare & Explore
Music at Other Schools
Other Majors at Western Carolina University
Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Western Carolina University's Music program score?
This program scores 43/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →