Music Degree in Columbia, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Columbia, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$34K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$46K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
21 yrs
in Columbia
Cost of Living
84
index (100 = avg)
Music in Columbia, MO Overview
Columbia, Missouri (pop. 126,254) has 10 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 84 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,005/month. 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 Columbia is approximately $33,600.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$11,142/yr
Private Tuition
$31,070/yr
Room & Board
$10,910/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,890/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
63%
Music Salary in Columbia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Columbia's cost of living index of 84 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Columbia adjustment factor: 0.84x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Columbia
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Columbia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,142 | Private avg: $31,070
Columbia avg aid: $16,890/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$88,208
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,200
vs HS diploma in Columbia
ROI Payback Period
21 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Columbia
$-4,208
Lifetime earnings premium ($84,000) minus total education cost ($88,208)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Columbia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Columbia for Music
University of Missouri
public
$11,142/yr
$44,568 total
Stephens College
private
$31,070/yr
$124,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Moberly Area Community College Columbia
$3,900/yr
Top Employers for Music in Columbia
Columbia offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Columbia Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$38K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$39K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Springfield, MO
$32K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Independence, MO
$34K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$38K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$35K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$36K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$33K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Columbia
Chinese Studies
$46K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$42K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$37K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$42K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$35K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$37K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$42K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$35K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Columbia — 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 Columbia.