Music at James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
37
Optimistic
37
Base Case
25
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)
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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,968
7.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,783
27% growth from Year 1
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
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 →