Music Degree in Virginia Beach, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Virginia Beach, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$35K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$48K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18.8 yrs
in Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
88
index (100 = avg)
Music in Virginia Beach, VA Overview
Virginia Beach, Virginia (pop. 459,470) has 13 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 88 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $975/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 Virginia Beach is approximately $35,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$11,210/yr
Private Tuition
$28,926/yr
Room & Board
$9,485/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,610/yr
Unemployment
3.2%
Graduation Rate
51%
Music Salary in Virginia Beach (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Virginia Beach's cost of living index of 88 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Virginia Beach adjustment factor: 0.88x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Virginia Beach
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Virginia Beach tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,210 | Private avg: $28,926
Virginia Beach avg aid: $12,610/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$82,780
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,400
vs HS diploma in Virginia Beach
ROI Payback Period
18.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Virginia Beach
$5,220
Lifetime earnings premium ($88,000) minus total education cost ($82,780)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Virginia Beach
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Virginia Beach for Music
Regent University
private
$19,100/yr
$76,400 total
Virginia Wesleyan University
private
$38,752/yr
$155,008 total
Old Dominion University
public
$11,210/yr
$44,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tidewater Community College
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Music in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Virginia Beach Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Virginia Cities
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
Newport News, VA
$37K starting · COL 92.5
7 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 Virginia Beach
Chinese Studies
$48K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$44K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$39K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$44K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$37K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$39K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$44K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$37K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Virginia Beach — 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 Virginia Beach.