Music Education Degree in Thornton, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Music Education degree analysis for Thornton, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$56K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.9 yrs
in Thornton
Cost of Living
102.5
index (100 = avg)
Music Education in Thornton, CO Overview
Thornton, Colorado (pop. 141,867) has 6 colleges offering Music Education programs. The local cost of living index of 102.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,335/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 Thornton is approximately $51,250.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$12,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,219/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,102/yr
Unemployment
2.9%
Graduation Rate
67%
Music Education Salary in Thornton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Thornton's cost of living index of 102.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Thornton adjustment factor: 1.02x based on the local cost of living index.
Music Education ROI Calculator for Thornton
Estimate your return on investment for a Music Education degree using local Thornton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Thornton avg aid: $8,102/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,676
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,375
vs HS diploma in Thornton
ROI Payback Period
6.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Thornton
$150,574
Lifetime earnings premium ($256,250) minus total education cost ($105,676)
Student Loan Payoff for Music Education in Thornton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Thornton for Music Education
Thornton State University
public
$11,406/yr
$45,624 total
University of Thornton
public
$12,917/yr
$51,668 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Thornton Community College
$5,632/yr
Top Employers for Music Education in Thornton
Thornton offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Music Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Thornton Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Music Education Job Titles
Music Education in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$64K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$56K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$63K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$52K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Education Majors in Thornton
Instructional Design & Technology
$51K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$51K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$51K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$51K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$51K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Physical Education
$51K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$51K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Music Education Degree in Thornton — 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 Thornton.