Music bachelor's degree programs in California

Compare 25 reporting programs using the same federal field and bachelor's degree credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.

25Programs reporting earnings

$42,269Median year-4 earnings

$20,976Median federal debt

21Programs reporting debt

OUTCOME SPREAD

Highest reported earnings in California

Each bar uses the same field, credential, state and earnings year.

1Sonoma State UniversityRohnert Park · Debt not reported$65,533 2University of RedlandsRedlands · $27,000 federal debt$59,275 3University of California, San DiegoLa Jolla · $18,938 federal debt$58,071 4Biola UniversityLa Mirada · $26,417 federal debt$50,781 5San Francisco Conservatory of MusicSan Francisco · $27,000 federal debt$49,186 6University of Silicon ValleySan Jose · Debt not reported$48,360 7California State University, Long BeachLong Beach · $20,550 federal debt$47,831 8University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles · $23,119 federal debt$47,779 9California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomona · $18,000 federal debt$44,910 10University of California, IrvineIrvine · Debt not reported$43,120

CAREER CONTEXT IN CA

What related occupations pay in California

These are common occupational matches for this field, ranked by the strength of the federal education-to-occupation match.

25-1121Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

State median wage: $99,410
Middle 50% wage range: $74,960–$143,070
State employment: 9,820
Projected growth: +2.2%
Annual openings: 8,000

10th–90th percentile: $60,420–$202,740

27-2041Music Directors and Composers

State median wage: $93,090
Middle 50% wage range: $66,810–$126,430
State employment: 2,510
Projected growth: +1.2%
Annual openings: 4,200

10th–90th percentile: $48,600–$175,670

25-2031Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

State median wage: $101,370
Middle 50% wage range: $79,710–$125,920
State employment: 99,230
Projected growth: -0.2%
Annual openings: 63,500

10th–90th percentile: $64,600–$132,600

27-4014Sound Engineering Technicians

State median wage: $78,150
Middle 50% wage range: $53,150–$100,910
State employment: 4,060
Projected growth: -3.1%
Annual openings: 1,000

10th–90th percentile: $45,720–$143,130

Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in California; they are not earnings or placement rates for graduates of these programs. Wage ranges show the distribution across workers, not an entry-to-experienced career path. Growth and annual openings are national 2025–35 projections. BLS reports openings in thousands; DegreeVerdict displays the corresponding job count. These figures provide labor-market context and are not used in DegreeVerdict payoff or ROI calculations.

ALL REPORTING PROGRAMS

Compare every available outcome

Sorted by observed year-4 earnings. Open a row for its exact college-and-degree profile.

#	College	City	Median year-4 earnings	Median federal debt
1	Sonoma State University	Rohnert Park	$65,533	Not available
2	University of Redlands	Redlands	$59,275	$27,000
3	University of California, San Diego	La Jolla	$58,071	$18,938
4	Biola University	La Mirada	$50,781	$26,417
5	San Francisco Conservatory of Music	San Francisco	$49,186	$27,000
6	University of Silicon Valley	San Jose	$48,360	Not available
7	California State University, Long Beach	Long Beach	$47,831	$20,550
8	University of California, Los Angeles	Los Angeles	$47,779	$23,119
9	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona	Pomona	$44,910	$18,000
10	University of California, Irvine	Irvine	$43,120	Not available
11	University of the Pacific	Stockton	$43,093	$26,017
12	California State University, Sacramento	Sacramento	$42,774	$16,500
13	California State University, Chico	Chico	$42,269	$24,125
14	San Diego State University	San Diego	$42,090	$15,131
15	Chapman University	Orange	$41,698	$27,000
16	California State University, Northridge	Northridge	$40,669	$15,933
17	California Institute of the Arts	Valencia	$40,294	$23,125
18	California State University, Monterey Bay	Seaside	$40,077	$18,920
19	California State University, Fullerton	Fullerton	$39,590	$20,469
20	California State University, Los Angeles	Los Angeles	$39,120	$12,500
21	San Francisco State University	San Francisco	$38,639	$15,000
22	University of Southern California	Los Angeles	$34,124	$20,976
23	University of California, Santa Barbara	Santa Barbara	$33,825	Not available
24	Academy of Art University	San Francisco	$33,151	$30,949
25	California Lutheran University	Thousand Oaks	$32,316	$25,980

This is an observed-outcomes comparison, not a universal quality ranking. Missing and privacy-suppressed programs are excluded.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

A quick read on Music in California

What do Music bachelor's degree graduates earn in California?

Across 25 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $42,269 four years after completion.

How much federal debt is reported for these programs?

The median is $20,976 among the 21 programs reporting federal debt.

Which California colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?

The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. Sonoma State University has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.