Fine and Studio Arts bachelor's degree at James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA · Public
What this page covers
Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are notably above similar programs.
$12,726 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
42.5% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−67% · Negative payoff
Available price data
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$89,070
$8,000Annual price−$121,070
$16,000Annual price−$153,070
$23,000Current college-wide context−$181,070
$24,000Current college-wide context−$185,070
$32,000Annual price−$217,070
$40,000Annual price−$249,070
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+51%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$33,501 → $50,61864Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort60Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort86Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median116Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median$37,207Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
490Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment84Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers198Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count234Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
85Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$35,969Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$54,093$18,124 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 81 Parent PLUS borrowers.
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$23,322
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$23,001
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$54,093
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$244/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$33,501Year 1
$54,093Year 4
$50,618Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
5.4% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$4,508
Estimated loan payment$244
116borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$54,093 vs. $41,367
$12,726 above the national median for the same field and credential.
Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$74,870 median wageVA estimate · 2,840 jobs · 25-1121$52,900–$96,300 middle 50% of VA wages+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 8,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeFine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators$47,930 median wageVA estimate · 230 jobs · 27-1013$35,000–$70,300 middle 50% of VA wages-2.9% projected U.S. growth · 2,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCraft Artists$46,080 median wageU.S. estimate · 4,580 jobs · 27-1012+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialSpecial Effects Artists and Animators$81,510 median wageVA estimate · 380 jobs · 27-1014$66,920–$110,180 middle 50% of VA wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArtists and Related Workers, All Other$111,530 median wageVA estimate · 180 jobs · 27-1019$85,030–$132,080 middle 50% of VA wages+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialJewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers$61,940 median wageVA estimate · 240 jobs · 51-9071$51,820–$80,240 middle 50% of VA wages-3.2% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentArt Directors$101,150 median wageVA estimate · 670 jobs · 27-1011$83,480–$125,120 middle 50% of VA wages+4.2% projected U.S. growth · 12,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,170 median wageVA estimate · 31,100 jobs · 25-2031$60,250–$83,820 middle 50% of VA wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArchivists$64,550 median wageU.S. estimate · 7,970 jobs · 25-4011+3.4% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeCurators$58,200 median wageVA estimate · 450 jobs · 25-4012$44,410–$79,500 middle 50% of VA wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 1,600 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeMuseum Technicians and Conservators$52,190 median wageVA estimate · 310 jobs · 25-4013$42,290–$68,200 middle 50% of VA wages+3.6% projected U.S. growth · 1,600 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhotographers$46,550 median wageVA estimate · 1,580 jobs · 27-4021$35,640–$55,800 middle 50% of VA wages-0.7% projected U.S. growth · 10,700 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS
Where graduates work five years later
The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.
01
Educational Services
about 28.5%02
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
about 18.3%03
Retail Trade
about 9.6%04
Accommodation and Food Services
about 6.1%05
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
about 5.6%
Possible alternatives
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.
Charlottesville, VA
University of Virginia-Main Campus
$486 higher earnings · $3,501 less debt · $1,757 lower annual net price