Music Degree in Arvada, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Arvada, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$58K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
19.8 yrs
in Arvada
Cost of Living
105.5
index (100 = avg)
Music in Arvada, CO Overview
While Arvada has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Music students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $13,944/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Although national enrollment in Music has been declining, graduates with skills in Performance and Music Theory remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Arvada is approximately $42,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$12,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,944/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,461/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
50%
Music Salary in Arvada (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Arvada's cost of living index of 105.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Arvada adjustment factor: 1.05x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Arvada
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Arvada tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Arvada avg aid: $8,461/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$104,576
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,275
vs HS diploma in Arvada
ROI Payback Period
19.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Arvada
$924
Lifetime earnings premium ($105,500) minus total education cost ($104,576)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Arvada
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Arvada for Music
Arvada State University
public
$11,667/yr
$46,668 total
University of Arvada
public
$11,617/yr
$46,468 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Arvada Community College
$5,532/yr
Top Employers for Music in Arvada
Arvada offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Arvada Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$51K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$49K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$44K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$50K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$42K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$41K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Westminster, CO
$42K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$49K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Arvada
Chinese Studies
$58K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$53K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$53K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$44K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$46K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$53K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$44K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Arvada — 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 ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Arvada.