WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+12% vs national median3,030 grads tracked

Visual and Performing Arts at James Madison University

Ranked 42nd of 376 bachelor's programs in Visual and Performing Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$36,076
middle 50%: $25,075 – $49,709
Median · 5 years out
$54,547
middle 50%: $39,485 – $70,747
Median · 10 years out
$65,628
middle 50%: $47,930 – $88,633

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Visual and Performing Arts (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of James Madison University's bachelor's program in Visual and Performing Arts earn a median $36,076 one year after graduating, rising to $65,628 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 12% above the national median of $48,719 for this field, ranking 42nd of 376 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
7.8 yrs
≈ $9,263 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Wisconsin - Stout
$55,469 · 5 yrs out
Empire State University
$55,384 · 5 yrs out
Texas Southern University
$55,307 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
$55,255 · 5 yrs out
College of Staten Island/CUNY
$55,078 · 5 yrs out
Central Connecticut State University
$54,750 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at San Antonio
$54,467 · 5 yrs out
University of New Haven
$54,118 · 5 yrs out
Saint John's University
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Wofford College
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$54,039 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Commerce
$53,944 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at James Madison University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$149,041 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$113,393 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's)
$109,323 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$108,391 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$107,900 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$105,157 · 5 yrs out
Systems Science and Theory (Bachelor's)
$101,995 · 5 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's)
$101,563 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)
$97,528 · 5 yrs out
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's)
$97,305 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$94,450 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$94,450 · 5 yrs out

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