Music Degree in Santa Fe, NM — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Santa Fe, NM. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$65K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
20 yrs
in Santa Fe
Cost of Living
118
index (100 = avg)
Music in Santa Fe, NM Overview
Santa Fe, New Mexico (pop. 87,505) has 7 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 118 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,028/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 Santa Fe is approximately $47,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$13,566/yr
Private Tuition
$38,206/yr
Room & Board
$15,986/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,970/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
65%
Music Salary in Santa Fe (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Santa Fe's cost of living index of 118 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Santa Fe adjustment factor: 1.18x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Santa Fe
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Santa Fe tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,566 | Private avg: $38,206
Santa Fe avg aid: $11,970/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$118,208
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,900
vs HS diploma in Santa Fe
ROI Payback Period
20 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Santa Fe
$-208
Lifetime earnings premium ($118,000) minus total education cost ($118,208)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Santa Fe
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Santa Fe for Music
St. John's College
private
$38,206/yr
$152,824 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Santa Fe Community College
$1,848/yr
Top Employers for Music in Santa Fe
Santa Fe offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Santa Fe Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby New Mexico Cities
Other Humanities Majors in Santa Fe
Chinese Studies
$65K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$59K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$59K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$50K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$52K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$59K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$50K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Santa Fe — 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 Santa Fe.