Music Degree in Peoria, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Peoria, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$57K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
14.3 yrs
in Peoria
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Music in Peoria, IL Overview
While Peoria has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Music students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $10,566/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 Peoria is approximately $41,600.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$8,032/yr
Private Tuition
$38,400/yr
Room & Board
$10,566/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,588/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
Music Salary in Peoria (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Peoria's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Peoria adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Peoria
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Peoria tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,032 | Private avg: $38,400
Peoria avg aid: $9,588/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$74,392
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,200
vs HS diploma in Peoria
ROI Payback Period
14.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Peoria
$29,608
Lifetime earnings premium ($104,000) minus total education cost ($74,392)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Peoria
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Peoria for Music
Bradley University
private
$38,400/yr
$153,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Illinois Central College
$4,980/yr
Top Employers for Music in Peoria
Peoria offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Peoria Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Illinois Cities
Chicago, IL
$44K starting · COL 109
98 colleges
Aurora, IL
$37K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$43K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$41K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$36K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$32K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Springfield, IL
$37K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$36K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Peoria
Chinese Studies
$57K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$44K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$46K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$52K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$44K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Peoria — 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 Peoria.