Best colleges for Music in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
James Madison University, George Mason University and Virginia Commonwealth University are the top bachelor's Music programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. James Madison University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,106, College Scorecard. Liberty University, Shenandoah University and James Madison University award the most Music degrees in Virginia: 199, 86 and 74 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 34 Virginia colleges offer Music and award 673 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Music program falls under the field of Visual and Performing Arts, focusing on the study and performance of music. It caters to students interested in various aspects of music, including performance, theory, and history, allowing them…
Top 5 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,106 | 74 | 80% | — | $20,968 |
| 2 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,611 | 70 | 68% | — | $24,048 |
| 3 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,989 | 34 | 63% | — | $27,000 |
| 4 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,003 | 199 | 65% | $28,911 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Radford University Radford Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,593 | 17 | 49% | — | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Music degrees in Virginia
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 199 | $28,003 |
| 2 | Shenandoah University Winchester Private not-for-profit | 86 | Not reported |
| 3 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 74 | $36,106 |
| 4 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 70 | $34,611 |
| 5 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 34 | $28,989 |
| 6 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 8 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 9 | Radford University Radford Public | 17 | $39,593 |
| 10 | Norfolk State University Norfolk Public | 14 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 24 Virginia colleges offering Music
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia State University | Petersburg | Public | 14 |
| Bridgewater College | Bridgewater | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Hampton University | Hampton | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Tidewater Community College | Norfolk | Public | 9 |
| Christopher Newport University | Newport News | Public | 7 |
| Brightpoint Community College | Chester | Public | 7 |
| University of Mary Washington | Fredericksburg | Public | 7 |
| Southern Virginia University | Buena Vista | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Virginia Union University | Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| University of Richmond | University of Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| William & Mary | Williamsburg | Public | 4 |
| Regent University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Annandale | Public | 4 |
| Averett University | Danville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Randolph-Macon College | Ashland | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Bluefield University | Bluefield | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Hollins University | Roanoke | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Washington and Lee University | Lexington | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Emory & Henry University | Emory | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Mary Baldwin University | Staunton | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | Cedar Bluff | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Musicians and Singers (SOC 27-2042).
Top skills
What Musicians and Singers earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Music programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Music degrees?+
Liberty University (199 graduates a year), Shenandoah University (86 graduates a year) and James Madison University (74 graduates a year) award the most Music degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 34 Virginia colleges offer Music.
What is the best college for Music in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, James Madison University leads among bachelor's Music programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,106, College Scorecard. George Mason University and Virginia Commonwealth University follow. By degrees awarded, Liberty University is the largest, with 199 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Music program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, James Madison University tops the list at $36,106. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
What is the focus of the Music program?+
The Music program falls under the field of Visual and Performing Arts, focusing on the study and performance of music. It caters to students interested in various aspects of music, including performance, theory, and history, allowing them…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Musicians and Singers?+
The national job outlook is about +1.1% growth with around 19,400 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A No formal educational credential is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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