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Programs & majors brief

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# Virginia Commonwealth University Majors & Programs

Updated October 1, 2026

[Overview](/school/virginia-commonwealth-university/)[Cost & aid](/school/virginia-commonwealth-university/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/virginia-commonwealth-university/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/virginia-commonwealth-university/admissions/)Majors[Similar schools](/school/virginia-commonwealth-university/similar/)

**On this page**+

## Which majors earn the most at Virginia Commonwealth University?

The largest programs at Virginia Commonwealth University span a wide earnings range four years after completion. Psychology awards 540 degrees a year and posts median earnings of $51,440; [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) it #124 nationally in its field.

Biology follows with 391 degrees awarded and $58,420, ranking #135 nationally. Subject-Area Teacher Education combines scale with stronger outcomes: 340 degrees awarded and median earnings of $59,442.

Azimuth ranks it #19 nationally and #1 in Virginia. Design and Applied Arts sits at the more moderate end, with 323 degrees awarded and $53,575, ranking #41 nationally.

The highest earnings come from much smaller programs. Computer and Information Sciences graduates earn a median of $118,521 from 118 degrees awarded a year.

A student choosing among the most popular majors is looking at a different earnings picture than one who enters a smaller, higher-paying field.

### Major mix · each dot ≈ 1% of completions

Share of reported completions in the bachelor’s programs included here. Each dot represents approximately 1% of those completions. Counts are credentials, not unique students; excluded programs are not zero activity.

-   Visual and performing arts**592 · 11.4%**
-   Business**544 · 10.5%**
-   Psychology**540 · 10.4%**
-   Biological sciences**433 · 8.3%**
-   Homeland security**423 · 8.1%**
-   Other**2,665 · 51.3%**

Find a field

Sort programsLargest programsHighest four-year earningsBest national field rankProgram name

51 of 51 programs shown

Four-year earnings · first six matching programs

**Computer and Information Sciences, General 118 degrees awarded**
$118,521

**Computer Engineering 23 degrees awarded**
$118,273

**Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering 37 degrees awarded**
$107,487

**Chemical Engineering 52 degrees awarded**
$97,781

**Mechanical Engineering 86 degrees awarded**
$88,410

**Information Science/Studies 169 degrees awarded**
$87,219

Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample.

Compare all matching programs

Reported bachelor’s programs · earnings, program size and field ranks

| Program | Degrees awarded | 4-yr earnings | Field rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 118 | $118,521 | #27 |
| Computer Engineering | 23 | $118,273 | #52 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 37 | $107,487 | #58 |
| Chemical Engineering | 52 | $97,781 | #80 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 86 | $88,410 | #182 |
| Information Science/Studies | 169 | $87,219 | #20 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 218 | $86,661 | #173 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 54 | $86,295 | #83 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 45 | $80,344 | #17 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 53 | $78,631 | #145 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions small degree count | 16 | $78,231 | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 41 | $77,786 | #32 |
| Physics small degree count | 19 | $77,737 | — |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other | 96 | $72,239 | #3 |
| Marketing | 122 | $68,622 | #109 |
| Mathematics | 61 | $68,457 | #132 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 239 | $68,387 | #23 |
| Chemistry | 100 | $67,439 | #54 |
| Philosophy | 33 | $64,402 | #20 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 33 | $64,164 | #42 |
| Political Science and Government | 208 | $62,182 | #114 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 83 | $61,395 | #8 |
| Security Science and Technology | 72 | $61,026 | #11 |
| Real Estate small degree count | 18 | $60,718 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 204 | $59,968 | #77 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 340 | $59,442 | #19 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 255 | $58,792 | #42 |
| Biology, General | 391 | $58,420 | #135 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 32 | $58,084 | #12 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 219 | $55,855 | #43 |
| Social Work | 96 | $55,288 | #61 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 323 | $53,575 | #41 |
| History | 47 | $53,186 | #129 |
| Sociology | 58 | $53,122 | #139 |
| Psychology, General | 540 | $51,440 | #124 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 57 | $50,217 | #113 |
| Anthropology | 24 | $49,641 | #51 |
| Area Studies | 42 | $45,852 | #33 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 116 | $45,844 | #170 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services small degree count | 14 | $45,607 | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 51 | $43,957 | #29 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 56 | $43,690 | #97 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 24 | $42,233 | #68 |
| Music | 39 | $38,278 | #129 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 87 | $37,958 | #65 |
| Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry | 20 | $37,253 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 22 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 42 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies small degree count | 7 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Dance small degree count | 16 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 79 | Too few graduates to report | — |

[Program data and definitions](#page-sources) · [How to evaluate program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)

## What are the largest programs at Virginia Commonwealth University?

Ten largest programs by degrees awarded

**Psychology, General**
540

**Biology, General**
391

**Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas**
340

**Design and Applied Arts**
323

**Criminal Justice and Corrections**
255

**Business/Commerce, General**
239

**Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other**
219

**Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing**
218

**Political Science and Government**
208

**Communication and Media Studies**
204

Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. [Program data and definitions](#page-sources)

## How do Virginia Commonwealth University majors rank nationally?

### National program rankings

1.  Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other**#3**
2.  Biological and Physical Sciences**#8**
3.  Security Science and Technology**#11**
4.  Urban Studies/Affairs**#12**
5.  Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions**#17**
6.  Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas**#19**
7.  Information Science/Studies**#20**
8.  Philosophy**#20**
9.  Business/Commerce, General**#23**
10.  Computer and Information Sciences, General**#27**
11.  Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft**#29**
12.  Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions**#32**
13.  Area Studies**#33**
14.  Design and Applied Arts**#41**
15.  Criminal Justice and Corrections**#42**
16.  Business/Managerial Economics**#42**
17.  Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other**#43**

Programs ranked in the national top 50, supplemented by the largest ranked programs when needed to show ten. Fewer appear when fewer ranks are reported. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ.

[How Azimuth compares programs across colleges](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)

## Further analysis

Outcomes at Virginia Commonwealth University vary sharply by field, and [Azimuth's program ranking](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)s evaluate four-year earnings among completers, median debt, and cohort size rather than reputation. The university has 46 programs with published earnings data, 41 of which carry an Azimuth national rank.

The degree mix is broad, with no single family dominating. Visual & Performing Arts accounts for 11.4% of bachelor's degrees awarded, followed by Business at 10.5% and Psychology at 10.4%.

The largest program, Psychology, awards 540 degrees a year and Azimuth ranks it #124 nationally. Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services holds the strongest national rank at #3, with completers earning $72,239 four years after graduation.

The highest-paid graduates come from Computer and Information Sciences, where the median reaches $118,521 from 118 degrees awarded a year.

## Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/).

Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. [About College Azimuth](/about/).