Music Degree in Little Rock, AR — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Little Rock, AR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$34K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$47K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
21.8 yrs
in Little Rock
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Music in Little Rock, AR Overview
Little Rock is one of Arkansas's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 18,659. Public tuition averages $9,312/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 Little Rock is approximately $34,000.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$9,312/yr
Private Tuition
$13,320/yr
Room & Board
$13,863/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,402/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
49%
Music Salary in Little Rock (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Little Rock's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Little Rock adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Little Rock
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Little Rock tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,312 | Private avg: $13,320
Little Rock avg aid: $15,402/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,700
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,250
vs HS diploma in Little Rock
ROI Payback Period
21.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Little Rock
$-7,700
Lifetime earnings premium ($85,000) minus total education cost ($92,700)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Little Rock
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Little Rock for Music
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
public
$9,312/yr
$37,248 total
Philander Smith University
private
$13,320/yr
$53,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pulaski Technical College
$3,800/yr
Top Employers for Music in Little Rock
Little Rock offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Little Rock Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Arkansas Cities
Fayetteville, AR
$36K starting · COL 89
4 colleges
Fort Smith, AR
$31K starting · COL 78.5
4 colleges
Springdale, AR
$34K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Jonesboro, AR
$33K starting · COL 82.5
4 colleges
Rogers, AR
$35K starting · COL 88.2
3 colleges
Conway, AR
$34K starting · COL 84.5
3 colleges
North Little Rock, AR
$35K starting · COL 86.6
3 colleges
Bentonville, AR
$37K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Little Rock
Chinese Studies
$47K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$43K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$37K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$43K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$36K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$37K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$38K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$43K starting · 8 yr ROI
Music Degree in Little Rock — 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 Little Rock.