Music Degree in Providence, RI — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Providence, RI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$56K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$78K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18.7 yrs
in Providence
Cost of Living
141
index (100 = avg)
Music in Providence, RI Overview
Providence, Rhode Island (pop. 190,934) has 7 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 141 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,476/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 Providence is approximately $56,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$15,259/yr
Private Tuition
$59,540/yr
Room & Board
$17,733/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,708/yr
Unemployment
4.3%
Graduation Rate
54%
Music Salary in Providence (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Providence's cost of living index of 141 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Providence adjustment factor: 1.41x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Providence
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Providence tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $15,259 | Private avg: $59,540
Providence avg aid: $15,708/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$131,968
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,050
vs HS diploma in Providence
ROI Payback Period
18.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Providence
$9,032
Lifetime earnings premium ($141,000) minus total education cost ($131,968)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Providence
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Providence for Music
Brown University
private
$62,680/yr
$250,720 total
Providence College
private
$56,400/yr
$225,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Rhode Island
$4,994/yr
Top Employers for Music in Providence
Providence offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Providence Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Rhode Island Cities
Other Humanities Majors in Providence
Chinese Studies
$78K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$71K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$62K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$71K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$59K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$62K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$63K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$71K starting · 8 yr ROI
Music Degree in Providence — 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 Providence.