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Music at James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,106/yr (28% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (101,600 openings/yr)

ROI 9.0x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #51 of 240 Music programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Music graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$488K	$488K	$455K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.0x	9.0x	8.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.0x	4.0x	3.7x
Probability of Field Employment	35%	31%	24%
DegreeOutlook Score	37	37	25

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$54,304

Out-of-state: $123,160 (4.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$87,264

-61% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,968

7.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$45,783

27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $36,106 per year, Music graduates from James Madison University significantly outpace the $28,116 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

At 9.0x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,968 debt-to-$36,106 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #51 out of 240 programs, James Madison University's Music program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $36,106 to $45,783 shows 27% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About James Madison University

With 76% of applicants admitted, James Madison University prioritizes broad access, with 20,497 students enrolled in Harrisonburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at James Madison University →

Top Career Paths

Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80,190/yr

Sound engineering technicians $66,430/yr

Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580/yr

View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Music at Other Schools

Other Majors at James Madison University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does James Madison University's Music program score?

This program scores 37/100 — on the lower end for Music. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Music to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Music careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does James Madison University rank so high for Music?

The #51 ranking out of 240 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →