Music bachelor's degree outcomes at Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY · Public · Federal field 5009

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$4,515 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 63.4% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −130% · Negative payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+26%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$34,766 → $43,735

—Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

18Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

31Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

42Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

—Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$10,990

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$24,317

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$38,377

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$258/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$10,990Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$24,188Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE93.9%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE55.6%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$34,766Year 1

$38,377Year 4

$43,735Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

8.1% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$3,198

Estimated loan payment$258

42borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$38,377 vs. $42,892

$4,515 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$64,440 median wageKY estimate · 900 jobs · 25-1121+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 8k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeMusicians and SingersNot available median wageU.S. estimate · 130 jobs · 27-2042+0.3% projected U.S. growth · 17.4k openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialMusic Directors and Composers$73,710 median wageU.S. estimate · 12,540 jobs · 27-2041+1.2% projected U.S. growth · 4.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSound Engineering Technicians$74,100 median wageKY estimate · 60 jobs · 27-4014-3.1% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Postsecondary nondegree awardSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61,560 median wageKY estimate · 12,780 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeDisc Jockeys, Except RadioNot available median wageU.S. estimate · 7,920 jobs · 27-2091+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 1.7k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalent

Possible alternatives