U.S. median for this major: $43,753.
College Scorecard field of study
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 40% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $26,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $31,735. College Scorecard.
Music at Virginia colleges
Every Virginia college we cover that reports Music graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christopher Newport University | $63,852 | — | $23,015 | 72% |
| 2 | Old Dominion University | $52,028 | $26,000 | $14,638 | 46% |
| 3 | James Madison University | $51,882 | $20,968 | $23,322 | 80% |
| 4 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | $48,028 | $27,000 | $24,953 | 86% |
| 5 | Radford University | $47,586 | $27,000 | $14,578 | 49% |
| 6 | George Mason University | $46,765 | $24,048 | $17,915 | 68% |
| 7 | Liberty University | $42,960 | $27,000 | $29,357 | 65% |
| 8 | Virginia Commonwealth University | $38,278 | $27,000 | $23,433 | 63% |
| 9 | Shenandoah University | $30,758 | $25,500 | $30,298 | 67% |
25 more Virginia colleges offer Music but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Music graduates
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Music Directors and Composers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +1.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at JMU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About JMU
- Acceptance rate: 72% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 80% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $69,954
- Full cost breakdown · all 49 majors · overview
Related majors at JMU
- Theatre$45,225
- Studio Art$54,093
JMU Music questions
How much do JMU Music graduates earn?
Music graduates of James Madison University earn a median $51,882 four years after graduating and $36,106 one year after. The U.S. median for Music graduates across 263 colleges is $43,753.
How much debt do JMU Music graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Music graduates of James Madison University is $20,968, about 40% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Where does JMU rank for Music in Virginia?
Of 9 Virginia colleges reporting Music graduate earnings, James Madison University ranks 3rd. The highest is Christopher Newport University at $63,852.
What jobs do Music graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $78,300 in the Harrisonburg, VA area and $72,040 nationally. Others include music directors and composers.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “James Madison University Music: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/james-madison-university/majors/music (College Scorecard and BLS data).