Music Degree in Minneapolis, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Minneapolis, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$39K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$53K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
22.7 yrs
in Minneapolis
Cost of Living
97
index (100 = avg)
Music in Minneapolis, MN Overview
Minneapolis, Minnesota (pop. 429,954) has 15 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 97 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $805/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 Minneapolis is approximately $38,800.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
15
Public Tuition
$15,142/yr
Private Tuition
$45,823/yr
Room & Board
$12,394/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,033/yr
Unemployment
4.4%
Graduation Rate
61%
Music Salary in Minneapolis (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Minneapolis's cost of living index of 97 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Minneapolis adjustment factor: 0.97x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Minneapolis
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Minneapolis tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $15,142 | Private avg: $45,823
Minneapolis avg aid: $14,033/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$110,144
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,850
vs HS diploma in Minneapolis
ROI Payback Period
22.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Minneapolis
$-13,144
Lifetime earnings premium ($97,000) minus total education cost ($110,144)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Minneapolis
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Minneapolis for Music
University of Minnesota
public
$15,142/yr
$60,568 total
University of St. Thomas
private
$49,716/yr
$198,864 total
Augsburg University
private
$41,930/yr
$167,720 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Minneapolis College
$5,772/yr
Top Employers for Music in Minneapolis
Minneapolis offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Minneapolis Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Minnesota Cities
Saint Paul, MN
$41K starting · COL 101.5
11 colleges
St. Paul, MN
$43K starting · COL 108
20 colleges
Rochester, MN
$42K starting · COL 105
8 colleges
Duluth, MN
$40K starting · COL 100
5 colleges
Bloomington, MN
$40K starting · COL 100.2
4 colleges
Brooklyn Park, MN
$40K starting · COL 98.8
4 colleges
Plymouth, MN
$43K starting · COL 107.3
4 colleges
Maple Grove, MN
$43K starting · COL 107.4
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Minneapolis
Chinese Studies
$53K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$49K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$43K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$49K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$41K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$43K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$49K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$41K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Minneapolis — 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 Minneapolis.