Music Degree in Newport News, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Newport News, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$37K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$51K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
24.8 yrs
in Newport News
Cost of Living
92.5
index (100 = avg)
Music in Newport News, VA Overview
Newport News, Virginia (pop. 186,247) has 7 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 92.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $705/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 Newport News is approximately $37,000.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,491/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,779/yr
Unemployment
2.2%
Graduation Rate
51%
Music Salary in Newport News (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Newport News's cost of living index of 92.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Newport News adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Newport News
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Newport News tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Newport News avg aid: $9,779/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$114,764
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,625
vs HS diploma in Newport News
ROI Payback Period
24.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Newport News
$-22,264
Lifetime earnings premium ($92,500) minus total education cost ($114,764)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Newport News
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Newport News for Music
Newport News State University
public
$13,266/yr
$53,064 total
University of Newport News
public
$15,083/yr
$60,332 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Newport News Community College
$5,242/yr
Top Employers for Music in Newport News
Newport News offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Newport News Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$35K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Chesapeake, VA
$36K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Arlington, VA
$57K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$37K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Richmond, VA
$40K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$41K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$39K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$35K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Newport News
Chinese Studies
$51K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$46K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$41K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$39K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$41K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$46K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$39K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Newport News — 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 Newport News.