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Music Degree in Duluth, MN — Salary & ROI 2026

Music degree analysis for Duluth, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$40K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$55K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

21.2 yrs

in Duluth

Cost of Living

100

index (100 = avg)

Music in Duluth, MN Overview

While Duluth has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Music students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $12,662/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 Duluth is approximately $40,000.

Category

Humanities

Local Colleges

5

Public Tuition

$13,872/yr

Private Tuition

$41,612/yr

Room & Board

$12,662/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$15,990/yr

Unemployment

3.2%

Graduation Rate

64%

Music Salary in Duluth (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Duluth's cost of living index of 100 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$40,000(+$0 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$55,000(+$0 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$68,000(+$0 vs national)

Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Duluth adjustment factor: 1.00x based on the local cost of living index.

Music ROI Calculator for Duluth

Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Duluth tuition and cost of living data.

Public avg: $13,872 | Private avg: $41,612

Duluth avg aid: $15,990/yr

Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%

Total Education Cost

$106,136

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$5,000

vs HS diploma in Duluth

ROI Payback Period

21.2 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Duluth

$-6,136

Lifetime earnings premium ($100,000) minus total education cost ($106,136)

Student Loan Payoff for Music in Duluth

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$106,136
Monthly Payment$1,205
Total Interest$38,482
% of Monthly Income36%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$106,136
Monthly Payment$2,077
Total Interest$18,464
Interest Savings$20,018

Colleges in Duluth for Music

University of Minnesota Duluth

public

$13,872/yr

$55,488 total

College of St. Scholastica

private

$41,612/yr

$166,448 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Lake Superior College

$5,772/yr

Top Employers for Music in Duluth

Duluth offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:

OrchestrasSchoolsRecording StudiosMusic PublishersSelf-Employed

Key Duluth Hiring Sectors for Humanities

Publishing

Non-profits

Education

Media companies

Government

Common Music Job Titles

MusicianMusic DirectorComposerMusic Teacher

Music Degree in Duluth — 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 Duluth.

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