Top Music Programs in Virginia by Earnings (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 10 Music programs in Virginia by the median earnings of Music graduates four years after completing, highest first. Christopher Newport University ranks 1st on this list, reporting median earnings of $63,852 for its Music graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, the median earnings figure is $47,176, with a spread of $38,658 from a high of $63,852 to a low of $25,194. For 1 of the 10 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 8 of the 10 programs, or 80% of the list. Radford University posts the lowest average net price among the group, at $14,578.
George Mason University ranks 33rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the strongest showing on the page.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christopher Newport University · Newport News, VA | $63,852 | $23,015 | $12,461 | 86.0% |
| Christopher Newport University reports median earnings of $63,852 for its Music graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $23,015. | |||||
| 2 | Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA | $52,028 | $14,638 | $9,739 | 90.4% |
| Old Dominion University ranks 2nd on this list, with a median federal debt of $25,500 among Music completers who borrowed and earnings of $52,028 four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA | $51,882 | $23,322 | $11,444 | 71.5% |
| Admitting 72% of applicants, James Madison University posts median earnings of $51,882 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA | $48,028 | $24,953 | $11,689 | 54.8% |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University sits 4th on this page, with an average net price of $11,689 for families earning under $30,000 and a cohort of 21 graduates in the earnings data. | |||||
| 5 | Radford University · Radford, VA | $47,586 | $14,578 | $8,965 | 89.5% |
| Radford University reports median earnings of $47,586 for its Music graduates four years after completing, and a median federal debt of $26,280 among Music completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 6 | George Mason University · Fairfax, VA | $46,765 | $17,915 | $11,942 | 87.5% |
| George Mason University holds the strongest Azimuth composite rank on the page, placing 33rd among nonprofit four-year institutions, alongside median earnings of $46,765 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | Liberty University · Lynchburg, VA | $42,960 | $29,357 | $30,667 | 99.0% |
| A private nonprofit university in Lynchburg, Liberty University admits 99% of applicants and reports median earnings of $42,960 for its Music graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, VA | $38,278 | $23,433 | $17,512 | 92.6% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University ranks 8th on this list, with an average net price of $17,512 for families earning under $30,000 and a median federal debt of $27,000 among Music completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 9 | Shenandoah University · Winchester, VA | $30,758 | $30,298 | $24,356 | 77.0% |
| Shenandoah University reports median earnings of $30,758 for its Music graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $30,298. | |||||
| 10 | William & Mary · Williamsburg, VA | $25,194 | $19,096 | $3,106 | 34.1% |
| William & Mary is the most selective school on the list, admitting 34% of applicants, and reports an average net price of $3,106 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Music graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in Virginia appear. The figure covers federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 1 of the 10 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between first-ranked Christopher Newport University and second-ranked Old Dominion University is $11,824.
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