Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Music bachelor's degree outcomes at University of Puget Sound

Tacoma, WA · 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 are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$1,685 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
65.5% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−111% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$41,207 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+44%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$25,551$36,824
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
21Year-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
Not availableRecent 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.

39Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
Not reportedFederal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
15Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
25Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$41,207$6,399 above the preliminary benchmark

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$38,394

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

02 · BORROWING$27,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$41,207

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$286/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$38,394Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$78,378Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE72.3%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE68.0%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.

$25,551Year 1
$41,207Year 4
$36,824Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

8.3% 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$3,434
Estimated loan payment$286
Not availableborrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$41,207 vs. $42,892

$1,685 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$77,950 median wageWA estimate · 1,400 jobs · 25-1121+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 8k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeMusicians and SingersNot available median wageU.S. estimate · 750 jobs · 27-2042+0.3% projected U.S. growth · 17.4k openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialMusic Directors and Composers$75,060 median wageWA estimate · 260 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$102,670 median wageWA estimate · 14,880 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSound Engineering Technicians$73,130 median wageU.S. estimate · 160 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

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Ellensburg, WA

Central Washington University

$9,801 higher earnings · $1,000 less debt · $19,918 lower annual net price

Earnings
$51,008
Debt
$26,000
Annual net price
$18,476
View outcomes →
Pullman, WA

Washington State University

$2,497 less debt · $23,423 lower annual net price

Earnings
$41,181
Debt
$24,503
Annual net price
$14,971
View outcomes →
Bellingham, WA

Western Washington University

$6,945 less debt · $17,201 lower annual net price

Earnings
$38,858
Debt
$20,055
Annual net price
$21,193
View outcomes →
Kirkland, WA

Northwest University

$7,500 less debt · $16,106 lower annual net price

Earnings
$37,112
Debt
$19,500
Annual net price
$22,288
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

21 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

Calculate my payoff →