Music Degree in Garland, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Garland, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$36K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$49K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
20 yrs
in Garland
Cost of Living
89
index (100 = avg)
Music in Garland, TX Overview
Garland is one of Texas's top college towns, with 23 institutions and a student population of 18,986. Public tuition averages $11,277/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 Garland is approximately $35,600.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
23
Public Tuition
$11,277/yr
Private Tuition
$7,560/yr
Room & Board
$10,998/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,785/yr
Unemployment
5.3%
Graduation Rate
55%
Music Salary in Garland (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Garland's cost of living index of 89 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Garland adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Garland
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Garland tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,277 | Private avg: $7,560
Garland avg aid: $11,785/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$89,100
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,450
vs HS diploma in Garland
ROI Payback Period
20 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Garland
$-100
Lifetime earnings premium ($89,000) minus total education cost ($89,100)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Garland
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Garland for Music
Amberton University
private
$7,560/yr
$30,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Dallas College Richland Campus
$2,220/yr
Top Employers for Music in Garland
Garland offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Garland Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$46K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$48K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$42K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$43K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$40K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$37K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$37K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$33K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Garland
Chinese Studies
$49K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$45K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$39K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$45K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$37K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$39K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$40K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$45K starting · 8 yr ROI
Music Degree in Garland — 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 Garland.