Graduates of Virginia Union University earn median 4-year earnings of $50,840, placing Virginia Union University in the 11.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,265 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Virginia Union University in the 74.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Virginia Union University #1171 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 20.8 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes represent lifetime returns relative to VA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $34,020 (the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential). The earnings pattern reflects Virginia Union University's concentration in social sciences and humanities fields. Criminology is the largest program with 23 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $49,024, at 0.9× the national benchmark for the field. Teacher Education and Biology, General follow as substantial cohorts, with Biology, General graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $40,032 at 0.7× the national benchmark. Social Work graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $38,872 at 0.8× the benchmark, while Psychology, General rounds out the top programs with 12 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $50,826 at 1.0× the benchmark. The institution's program mix anchors on Social Sciences, which shapes both the earnings profile and the career pathways available to graduates.
Graduates of Virginia Union University earn median 4-year earnings of $50,840, placing Virginia Union University in the 11.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,265 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Virginia Union University in the 74.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Virginia Union University #1171 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 20.8 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes represent lifetime returns relative to VA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $34,020 (the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential). The earnings pattern reflects Virginia Union University's concentration in social sciences and humanities fields. Criminology is the largest program with 23 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $49,024, at 0.9× the national benchmark for the field. Teacher Education and Biology, General follow as substantial cohorts, with Biology, General graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $40,032 at 0.7× the national benchmark. Social Work graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $38,872 at 0.8× the benchmark, while Psychology, General rounds out the top programs with 12 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $50,826 at 1.0× the benchmark. The institution's program mix anchors on Social Sciences, which shapes both the earnings profile and the career pathways available to graduates.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
Lower quartile, 10-year field
Upper quartile, 10-year field
Graduates of Virginia Union University earn median 4-year earnings of $50,840, placing Virginia Union University in the 11.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,265 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Virginia Union University in the 74.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Virginia Union University #1171 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 20.8 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes represent lifetime returns relative to VA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $34,020 (the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential). The earnings pattern reflects Virginia Union University's concentration in social sciences and humanities fields. Criminology is the largest program with 23 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $49,024, at 0.9× the national benchmark for the field. Teacher Education and Biology, General follow as substantial cohorts, with Biology, General graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $40,032 at 0.7× the national benchmark. Social Work graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $38,872 at 0.8× the benchmark, while Psychology, General rounds out the top programs with 12 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $50,826 at 1.0× the benchmark. The institution's program mix anchors on Social Sciences, which shapes both the earnings profile and the career pathways available to graduates.
How graduate earnings grow across the currently available FE horizons.
Financial justification for the investment.
Graduates of Virginia Union University earn median 4-year earnings of $50,840, placing Virginia Union University in the 11.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,265 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Virginia Union University in the 74.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Virginia Union University #1171 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 20.8 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes represent lifetime returns relative to VA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $34,020 (the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential). The earnings pattern reflects Virginia Union University's concentration in social sciences and humanities fields. Criminology is the largest program with 23 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $49,024, at 0.9× the national benchmark for the field. Teacher Education and Biology, General follow as substantial cohorts, with Biology, General graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $40,032 at 0.7× the national benchmark. Social Work graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $38,872 at 0.8× the benchmark, while Psychology, General rounds out the top programs with 12 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $50,826 at 1.0× the benchmark. The institution's program mix anchors on Social Sciences, which shapes both the earnings profile and the career pathways available to graduates.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
Virginia Union University's program mix is anchored in social sciences and business fields, reflecting the institution's liberal arts and professional education identity. Criminology is the largest program with 23 graduates, followed by Teacher Education, Biology, General, Social Work, and Psychology, General. Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 129 students annually, several deliver solid four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market demand. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in business and professional fields. General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations leads with median earnings of $64,924 four years after enrollment across 6 graduates, followed by Psychology, General with $50,826 and Criminology with $49,024. Communication and Media Studies and Biology, General round out the highest-earning programs, each delivering competitive four-year outcomes. The concentration of strength in Social Sciences (representing 16% of graduates) and Business (representing 16% of graduates) reflects Virginia Union University's positioning as a professional and applied-education institution. Virginia Union University's program portfolio emphasizes fields with direct workforce entry and stable regional demand. The supply and demand for college graduates provides context for how these dominant program families align with labor-market conditions in the Richmond area and beyond. For prospective students, the earnings variation across programs underscores the importance of major selection in shaping four-year financial outcomes.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
