Top Ranked Programs
Virginia Commonwealth University's program mix centers on business, education, and liberal arts — a portfolio aligned with the institution's identity as a private liberal arts college. Psychology, General is the largest program with 540 graduates, followed by Biology, General, Subject-Specific Teacher Education, Design and Applied Arts, and Criminal Justice. Across 51 total programs serving roughly 5,197 students annually, 45 programs meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering strong four-year earnings outcomes. The highest-earning programs reflect Virginia Commonwealth University's applied-professional strengths. Nursing leads with median earnings of $86,661 four years after enrollment across 218 graduates, followed by Business/Commerce, General with $68,387 and Political Science with $62,182. Communication and Media Studies and Subject-Specific Teacher Education round out the top earners, delivering median earnings of $59,968 and $59,442 respectively. The concentration in Visual & Performing Arts — representing 11% of graduates — is reflected in these earnings patterns, with business-adjacent fields and applied professional programs anchoring the institution's economic signature. Virginia Commonwealth University's program portfolio balances direct-to-workforce pathways with fields that support graduate and professional school transitions. Programs in Business (10%) and Education (7%) provide breadth across the liberal arts, with some graduates continuing to advanced study while others enter the labor market directly. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Virginia Commonwealth University's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.