Music Degree in Racine, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Racine, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$34K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$47K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
21.6 yrs
in Racine
Cost of Living
85.8
index (100 = avg)
Music in Racine, WI Overview
While Racine has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Music students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,562/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 Racine is approximately $34,320.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,600/yr
Private Tuition
$34,000/yr
Room & Board
$12,562/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,051/yr
Unemployment
2.1%
Graduation Rate
72%
Music Salary in Racine (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Racine's cost of living index of 85.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Racine adjustment factor: 0.86x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Racine
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Racine tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,600 | Private avg: $34,000
Racine avg aid: $8,051/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,648
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,290
vs HS diploma in Racine
ROI Payback Period
21.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Racine
$-6,848
Lifetime earnings premium ($85,800) minus total education cost ($92,648)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Racine
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Racine for Music
Racine State University
public
$11,121/yr
$44,484 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Racine Community College
$5,143/yr
Top Employers for Music in Racine
Racine offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Racine Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$38K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Madison, WI
$36K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$34K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$42K starting · COL 106
8 colleges
Appleton, WI
$32K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$36K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$34K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$43K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Racine
Chinese Studies
$47K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$43K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$38K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$43K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$36K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$38K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$43K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$36K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Racine — 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 Racine.