Bachelor's0% vs national median399 grads tracked
Music at Western Illinois University
Ranked 95th of 250 bachelor's programs in Music by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$34,550
middle 50%: $25,865 – $42,936
Median · 5 years out
$49,831
middle 50%: $36,661 – $60,775
Median · 10 years out
$60,130
middle 50%: $46,392 – $78,977
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Music (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Graduates of Western Illinois University's bachelor's program in Music earn a median $34,550 one year after graduating, rising to $60,130 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 0% above the national median of $49,659 for this field, ranking 95th of 250 reporting programs.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
8.5 yrs
≈ $10,061 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$50,486 · 5 yrs out
Adams State University
$50,381 · 5 yrs out
Grambling State University
$50,311 · 5 yrs out
Georgia State University
$50,238 · 5 yrs out
Virginia State University
$50,129 · 5 yrs out
Northeastern Illinois University
$49,855 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$49,811 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Boulder
$49,731 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$49,677 · 5 yrs out
University of Oklahoma
$49,659 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina at Wilmington (The)
$49,582 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse
$49,501 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Western Illinois University
Education (Doctorate)
$163,593 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$107,538 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$98,269 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Master's)
$97,417 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$97,160 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,133 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$84,414 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$82,090 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$82,014 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (Bachelor's)
$81,320 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out