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Music master's degree outcomes at Northwestern University

Name: Music Master's Degree outcomes at Northwestern University
Creator: U.S. Department of Education

Evanston, IL · Private nonprofit · 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.

$14,223 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: Not available
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: Withheld by data safeguards
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.

+74%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$21,290 → $36,983

38Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

23Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

67Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

Not availableBorrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

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

0Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

76Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

35Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

Not reportedPell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

58Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$48,304Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$34,062$14,242 below the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: Parent PLUS not reported · 35 Grad PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$29,167

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

02 · BORROWINGNot available

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$34,062

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENTNot available

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.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$29,167Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$91,250Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE7.7%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE95.1%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.

$21,290Year 1

$34,062Year 4

$36,983Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

Repayment pressure is not available

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

Gross monthly earnings$2,839

Estimated loan paymentNot available

Not availableborrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$34,062 vs. $48,285

$14,223 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$62,960 median wageIL estimate · 4,170 jobs · 25-1121+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 8k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeMusicians and SingersNot available median wageU.S. estimate · 1,300 jobs · 27-2042+0.3% projected U.S. growth · 17.4k openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialMusic Directors and Composers$49,270 median wageIL estimate · 12,540 jobs · 27-2041+1.2% projected U.S. growth · 4.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$79,990 median wageIL estimate · 44,670 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSound Engineering Technicians$73,130 median wageIL estimate · 570 jobs · 27-4014-3.1% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Postsecondary nondegree awardDisc 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