COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES
Music bachelor's degree at Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · Public
What this page covers
Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are close to similar programs.
$4,034 below the national median for the same field and degree level.
- Debt as a share of earnings
- 51.6% of annual earnings
- Highest price with a positive payoff
- Not reached
- Modeled 10-year payoff
- −123% · Negative payoff
- Available price data
- 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.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$241,420
$8,000Annual price−$273,420
$16,000Annual price−$305,420
$21,000Current college-wide context−$325,420
$24,000Annual price−$337,420
$32,000Annual price−$369,420
$40,000Annual price−$401,420
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
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.
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$39,073Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$38,858$215 below 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. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$21,193
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$20,055
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$38,858
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$213/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.
Enter my price →AVERAGE NET PRICE$21,193Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$30,359Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE93.3%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE64.6%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.
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
6.6% 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$3,238
Estimated loan payment$213
28borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$38,858 vs. $42,892
$4,034 below the national median for the same field and credential.
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$62,030–$96,750 middle 50% of WA wages+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 8,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeMusicians and SingersNot available median wageU.S. estimate · 750 jobs · 27-2042+0.3% projected U.S. growth · 17,400 openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialMusic Directors and Composers$75,060 median wageWA estimate · 260 jobs · 27-2041$61,320–$104,090 middle 50% of WA wages+1.2% projected U.S. growth · 4,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$102,670 median wageWA estimate · 14,880 jobs · 25-2031$81,360–$121,100 middle 50% of WA wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSound Engineering Technicians$73,130 median wageU.S. estimate · 160 jobs · 27-4014-3.1% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 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 · 1,700 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
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.
Central Washington University
$12,150 higher earnings · $2,717 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $51,008
- Debt
- $26,000
- Annual net price
- $18,476
Washington State University
$2,323 higher earnings · $6,222 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $41,181
- Debt
- $24,503
- Annual net price
- $14,971
University of Puget Sound
$2,349 higher earnings
- Earnings
- $41,207
- Debt
- $27,000
- Annual net price
- $38,394
Northwest University
$555 less debt
- Earnings
- $37,112
- Debt
- $19,500
- Annual net price
- $22,288
DATA QUALITY
Check the evidence behind the estimate.
22 observations in the earnings cohort
June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release
Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page
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 →