Music: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 13 reporting college programs.
−$214,533 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting associate's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 2-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $35,327
- Federal debt
- $9,500
- Reporting programs
- 10
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $36,153
- Federal debt
- $19,687
- Reporting programs
- 13
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $43,385
- Federal debt
- $26,000
- Reporting programs
- 314
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $35,623
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $47,357
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 98
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,796
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 30
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Dallas College$48,3782Valencia College$38,5073Finger Lakes Community College$38,3564Miami Dade College$37,5465Musicians Institute$37,3196Full Sail University$34,9877Los Angeles Film School$33,0468St Petersburg College$32,5739SUNY Broome Community College$31,21510Onondaga Community CollegeNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dallas, TX | $48,378 | Not available | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Valencia CollegeAssociate's Degree | Orlando, FL | $38,507 | $10,575 | -157% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Finger Lakes Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Canandaigua, NY | $38,356 | Not available | -156% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Miami Dade CollegeAssociate's Degree | Miami, FL | $37,546 | Not available | -174% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Musicians InstituteAssociate's Degree | Hollywood, CA | $37,319 | Not available | -142% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Full Sail UniversityAssociate's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $34,987 | $27,000 | -160% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Los Angeles Film SchoolAssociate's Degree | Hollywood, CA | $33,046 | $22,625 | -179% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | St Petersburg CollegeAssociate's Degree | St. Petersburg, FL | $32,573 | Not available | -234% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | SUNY Broome Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Binghamton, NY | $31,215 | Not available | -228% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Onondaga Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Syracuse, NY | Not available | $12,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $8,562 |
| 11 | Shoreline CollegeAssociate's Degree | Shoreline, WA | Not available | $17,644 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $8,585 |
| 12 | Atlanta Institute of Music and MediaAssociate's Degree | Duluth, GA | Not available | $19,687 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $37,832 |
| 13 | International College of BroadcastingAssociate's Degree | , | $30,367 | $27,300 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.