Music Degree in Aurora, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Aurora, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$61K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18 yrs
in Aurora
Cost of Living
111
index (100 = avg)
Music in Aurora, CO Overview
Aurora is one of Colorado's top college towns, with 28 institutions and a student population of 20,916. Public tuition averages $11,380/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Aurora is approximately $44,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
28
Public Tuition
$11,380/yr
Private Tuition
$47,322/yr
Room & Board
$13,656/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,981/yr
Unemployment
3.1%
Graduation Rate
63%
Music Salary in Aurora (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Aurora's cost of living index of 111 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Aurora adjustment factor: 1.11x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Aurora
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Aurora tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,380 | Private avg: $47,322
Aurora avg aid: $16,981/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$100,144
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,550
vs HS diploma in Aurora
ROI Payback Period
18 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Aurora
$10,856
Lifetime earnings premium ($111,000) minus total education cost ($100,144)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Aurora
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Aurora for Music
University of Colorado Anschutz
public
$11,380/yr
$45,520 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Aurora
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for Music in Aurora
Aurora offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Aurora 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
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
Arvada, CO
$42K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$42K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$49K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Aurora
Chinese Studies
$61K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$56K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$49K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$56K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$47K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$49K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$56K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Aurora — 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 Aurora.