Music at Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN · Bachelor's Degree · about 56 graduates a year
Vanderbilt University graduates in music earn 38% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 36% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Vanderbilt University Compares for Music
All 268 colleges reporting music earnings at this degree level, ranked by median pay four years after graduation. “Wage-adjusted” divides pay by the square root of the state’s wage index so colleges in low-wage states aren’t penalized for local pay.
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | Adj. rank | 1 yr after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA | $65,533 | $59,631 | #8 | — |
| 2 | Christopher Newport University Newport News, VA | $63,852 | $58,143 | #10 | — |
| 3 | Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, NJ | $61,943 | $54,366 | #30 | $21,623 |
| 4 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | $61,446 | $65,401 | #1 | $22,559 |
| 5 | Northeastern University Boston, MA | $60,974 | $53,694 | #38 | $21,978 |
| 6 | Northeastern University Professional Programs Boston, MA | $60,974 | $53,694 | #39 | $21,978 |
| 7 | The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX | $60,172 | $61,177 | #4 | $56,062 |
| 8 | University of Redlands Redlands, CA | $59,275 | $53,936 | #35 | — |
| 9 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, TX | $59,218 | $60,207 | #5 | $56,373 |
| 10 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | $59,217 | $64,688 | #2 | — |
| 11 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX | $59,198 | $60,187 | #6 | $37,020 |
| 12 | Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX | $58,743 | $59,724 | #7 | $59,926 |
| 13 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | $58,127 | $62,379 | #3 | $32,880 |
Other Majors at Vanderbilt University by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $160,021 | $122,244 | #23 of 349 |
| Mathematics | $141,171 | $103,812 | #5 of 309 |
| Economics | $140,337 | $84,311 | #11 of 368 |
| Chemical Engineering | $121,641 | $75,639 | #2 of 158 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $116,662 | $63,402 | #3 of 118 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $114,368 | $47,208 | #1 of 225 |
| Social Sciences | $103,229 | $61,389 | #1 of 87 |
| Political Science and Government | $102,789 | $46,843 | #3 of 565 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $101,345 | $78,009 | #33 of 318 |
| Public Policy Analysis | $91,265 | $57,023 | #6 of 34 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | $86,559 | $37,276 | #9 of 207 |
| Sociology | $83,649 | — | #3 of 462 |
| Civil Engineering | $82,744 | — | #150 of 233 |
| Engineering Science | — | $81,126 | — |
| Psychology | $71,584 | $36,716 | #22 of 1027 |
| History | $69,820 | $46,856 | #25 of 459 |
| English Language and Literature | $60,439 | $34,633 | #53 of 576 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $59,575 | $25,830 | #38 of 67 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $55,188 | — | #97 of 680 |
| Cognitive Science | — | $38,752 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Vanderbilt University music graduates make?
Graduates earn $59,217 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Vanderbilt University rank for music?
Among 268 colleges reporting earnings for music graduates, Vanderbilt University ranks #10 by median pay four years after graduation, and #2 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is music at Vanderbilt University worth it?
Its graduates earn 38% more than the national median for music ($42,892), and the median federal debt at graduation is $21,500.
← All data for Vanderbilt University · Methodology
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled; programs with few graduates are not reported. Wage adjustment uses Census ACS state median household income.