Best Music Degrees in New York by ROI
Colleges in New York ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in New York
17
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$527,577
Across New York programs
Average Annual Cost
$47,184
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
Grad rate: 72.8% |
-$121,744 | $38,617 | $13,521 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
SUNY College at Potsdam
Grad rate: 48.9% |
-$161,866 | $40,627 | $24,489 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
CUNY Hunter College
Grad rate: 58.7% |
-$384,740 | $25,425 | $13,310 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
SUNY at Fredonia
Grad rate: 56.6% |
-$386,274 | $29,575 | $25,331 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
SUNY Buffalo State University
Grad rate: 36.2% |
-$448,684 | $24,200 | $23,171 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
The College of Saint Rose
Grad rate: 53.1% |
-$454,839 | $31,616 | $52,773 | $26,717 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Mercy University
Grad rate: 47.6% |
-$466,156 | $26,976 | $32,391 | $26,750 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Hofstra University
Grad rate: 67.4% |
-$504,767 | $32,210 | $68,298 | $26,500 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Ithaca College
Grad rate: 74.2% |
-$540,458 | $30,032 | $66,162 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
CUNY City College
Grad rate: 56.6% |
-$545,776 | $18,764 | $13,514 | $20,000 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Five Towns College
Grad rate: 44.8% |
-$571,510 | $23,456 | $40,792 | $27,750 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
SUNY at Purchase College
Grad rate: 64.2% |
-$610,365 | $18,687 | $28,541 | $22,179 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
New York University
Grad rate: 87.8% |
-$666,814 | $26,171 | $79,121 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
University of Rochester
Grad rate: 87.0% |
-$717,198 | $24,467 | $82,600 | $26,769 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
The Juilliard School
Grad rate: 89.6% |
-$783,330 | $20,739 | $81,090 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Music Degrees by State
Browse Music programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.