Music Education Degree in Surprise, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Music Education degree analysis for Surprise, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$55K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.9 yrs
in Surprise
Cost of Living
100.2
index (100 = avg)
Music Education in Surprise, AZ Overview
Surprise, Arizona (pop. 143,148) has 6 colleges offering Music Education programs. The local cost of living index of 100.2 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,095/month. Although national enrollment in Music Education has been declining, graduates with skills in Music Theory and Conducting remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Surprise is approximately $50,100.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$11,400/yr
Private Tuition
$24,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,357/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,568/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
49%
Music Education Salary in Surprise (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Surprise's cost of living index of 100.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Surprise adjustment factor: 1.00x based on the local cost of living index.
Music Education ROI Calculator for Surprise
Estimate your return on investment for a Music Education degree using local Surprise tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,400 | Private avg: $24,000
Surprise avg aid: $13,568/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,028
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,030
vs HS diploma in Surprise
ROI Payback Period
6.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Surprise
$147,472
Lifetime earnings premium ($250,500) minus total education cost ($103,028)
Student Loan Payoff for Music Education in Surprise
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Surprise for Music Education
Surprise State University
public
$12,369/yr
$49,476 total
University of Surprise
public
$12,295/yr
$49,180 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Surprise Community College
$5,065/yr
Top Employers for Music Education in Surprise
Surprise offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Music Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Surprise Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Music Education Job Titles
Music Education in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$76K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$58K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Mesa, AZ
$55K starting · COL 110
31 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$62K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$60K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Glendale, AZ
$53K starting · COL 105
16 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$63K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$52K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Other Education Majors in Surprise
Instructional Design & Technology
$50K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$50K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$50K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$50K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$50K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Physical Education
$50K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$50K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Music Education Degree in Surprise — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Music Education ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Surprise.