Music Degree in Lowell, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Lowell, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$62K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
21.9 yrs
in Lowell
Cost of Living
112.5
index (100 = avg)
Music in Lowell, MA Overview
While Lowell has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Music students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,748/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 Lowell is approximately $45,000.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$16,100/yr
Private Tuition
$48,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,748/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,502/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
73%
Music Salary in Lowell (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lowell's cost of living index of 112.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Lowell adjustment factor: 1.13x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Lowell
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Lowell tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,100 | Private avg: $48,000
Lowell avg aid: $14,502/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$123,392
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,625
vs HS diploma in Lowell
ROI Payback Period
21.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lowell
$-10,892
Lifetime earnings premium ($112,500) minus total education cost ($123,392)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Lowell
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lowell for Music
Lowell State University
public
$16,448/yr
$65,792 total
University of Lowell
public
$18,005/yr
$72,020 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lowell Community College
$6,184/yr
Top Employers for Music in Lowell
Lowell offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lowell Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$55K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Worcester, MA
$47K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$53K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$53K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Brockton, MA
$43K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$51K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$41K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$47K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Lowell
Chinese Studies
$62K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$56K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$50K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$56K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$47K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$50K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$56K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Lowell — 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 Lowell.