If your student is passionate about theater, music, or art, you’ve probably asked yourself — or them — the question every arts family eventually faces: But what will you do with that degree?
It turns out the answer is far more varied, surprising, and often inspiring than most families expect. We asked parents in our Paying for College 101 community to share what happened after graduation — and the responses were overwhelming. Here’s what they said.
Teaching Is the Most Common Path — But Far From the Only One
The most frequent outcome mentioned was teaching — and it spans every level from elementary school to university.
“Music Ed 2025 grad — great job teaching elementary music and private lessons. Performing with local community symphony for fun.” — Debby A.
“My son just graduated 2 months ago. His major was music education. He is currently a middle school director and lesson teacher.” — Misty R.
“I graduated with a BA in music, and own and operate 2 full line music stores. Retail, repairs and lessons.” — Christina C.
But teaching wasn’t always the original plan — it was sometimes a turn in a new direction that led to a genuinely fulfilling career.
“Music performance for 3 years then switched to music ed degree — orchestra teacher now. I got into law school but opted to continue teaching.” — Kristen H.
The Performing Arts Career — It Happens, and More Than You Might Think
Families often assume a professional performing career is a one-in-a-million shot. While it’s undeniably competitive, plenty of parents shared stories of students who are actually doing it.
“My daughter graduated from a BFA program in musical theater from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She has earned 100% of her living from theater and music since her graduation day at age 20 in NYC and has fully supported herself following college.” — Susan T.
“Daughter has her BFA in musical theater and is on a national tour of a Broadway musical!” — Katie G.
“My 2023 BFA Acting grad is a working actor based in Chicago. She signed with an agency soon after moving to Chicago. She has gotten numerous theatre contracts, does a lot of workshops and readings in the city.” — Lori L.
For some, the performing career is thriving but requires flexibility and hustle.
“BFA in Acting grad is an NYC working actor, side hustle jobs to pay bills, but consistently books paid performance jobs.” — Anonymous
And sometimes, it’s a combination of performing and coaching. “Hi! Theatre major here. I’m still a working actor and college audition coach.” — Drew B.
The Surprising Career Turns Nobody Sees Coming
Perhaps the most striking theme in the responses was how often arts and music graduates end up in fields that seem completely unrelated — and thrive there.
Law:
“Voice performance major. Attorney working in higher education advancement.” — McRae S.
“I am a theatre arts directing undergraduate, got my teaching certificate, taught theatre and speech for 11 years, got my MBA and now mentor students online so they can get their MBA. It doesn’t matter what degree you get as long as you get one, hopefully in something you enjoy. You can always change course.” — Denelle D.
“Bachelor of Music in performance in ’93. Went back to school in ’97 for my Master’s in Library Science and am now a music librarian.” — Rebecca H.
Medicine: Multiple respondents noted the overlap between artistic training and medical careers — particularly surgery.
“My husband was a Sculpture BFA, who was then a Sculpture MFA, who is now an Emergency Medicine Physician. I think all of his problem-solving skills from sculpture totally make him a better doctor.” — Tiffany D.
“A friend [in] surgery and almost all the pros in the operating room were music majors in undergrad!” — Cristina B.
Technology and Business:
“I’m currently a software product manager by day and still do community theater by night. Trust me when I say all my training absolutely helps me in my corporate life.” — Onica H.
“I graduated with an undergraduate degree in Performance Studies from Northwestern in ’92. I went back to school in ’95 to study psychology and became a licensed psychologist in 2005.” — Stephanie J.
The Nonprofit and Arts Administration World
A significant number of arts graduates channel their passion into building and running organizations rather than performing in them.
“Bachelor of Music Composition & Master of Science Performing Arts Leadership & Management — has been Executive Director of a local nonprofit jazz organization, Assistant Development Director of a college, and currently works in Development for a community social services agency.” — Anonymous
“I have run a nonprofit arts org for 28 years.” — Rachel M.
“I have a BFA in theatre and an MFA in design. I freelance, scene paint, and teach college theatre classes. I have also run my own bakery, worked in production management, and taught pre-K.” — Laurie P.
What the Arts Actually Teach You — And Why Employers Notice
Several respondents pushed back on the idea that an arts degree is primarily vocational training. They argued that the real value is in what it develops in a person.
“I majored in music. Changed to communications in my sophomore year because I was afraid I would be chronically unemployed and underpaid. I love my job, love writing, and make well into 6 figures. I did get a music minor just so I’d still have a foot in the door.” — Anonymous
But others who stayed the course made an equally compelling case for the degree itself.
“My degree was NEVER an issue. EVER. If anything, it was a source of intrigue everywhere I landed.” — Marni A.
Laura Y., who has a BA in Fine Art and now works in enrollment management, put it best:
“In this economy, where industries fluctuate so wildly and jobs that were there four years ago aren’t here anymore, an arts degree develops scrappers — people who are going to figure out the next steps, and then figure out how they can do it, and how to engage the people around them in order to pull it off.”
And Ellen G., who started with a BFA in musical theater and now runs a business with $3.5 million in annual revenue and 30 employees, offered this:
“It was a gift that my parents let their poor, free lunch eligible, valedictorian kid major in whatever she wanted regardless of the practicality. And I’ve done just fine.”
The Bottom Line for Parents
The responses from this community tell a clear story: arts and music graduates don’t follow a single path. They teach, perform, practice law and medicine, build companies, run nonprofits, work in tech, and reinvent themselves in ways nobody predicted. The skills they develop — creativity, collaboration, problem solving, storytelling, and resilience — translate further than most families expect.
As Drew B. summed it up: “The problem-solving, adaptability, and outward-facing skills that theatre majors get are wholly transferable.”
The better question for families may not be what will you do with that degree — but what kind of person do you want your student to become? For many, the answer starts in a rehearsal room, a studio, or on a stage.
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