What can you do with a Psychology degree from James Madison University?

First, some facts. Of the Psychology graduates from James Madison University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 45 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 66%, Psychology graduates from James Madison University have a slightly lower likelihood (-1%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 66%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 66% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Psychology graduate.

See the details:

View a random Psychology graduate from James Madison University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 67%

We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2017 from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Mentor
Cross Roads Counseling Center
Mar 2017 - Dec 2017
As a Mentor at Cross Roads Counseling Center, this position directly utilizes psychological theories and interpersonal skills pertinent to the Bachelor's degree in Psychology.

Main Office Secretary
East Rockingham High School
Aug 2017 - Aug 2018
The role of Main Office Secretary at East Rockingham High School does not require psychological knowledge or skills, as it primarily focuses on administrative tasks.

Assistant Cheerleading Coach
Luray High School
Jul 2017 - May 2018
The Assistant Cheerleading Coach position may involve some understanding of group dynamics and motivation which relates to psychology, but it does not center on core psychological qualifications on a daily basis.

Luray High School Head Cheerleading Coach
Luray High School
Jun 2018 - Present
As Head Cheerleading Coach, while leadership skills in motivating and managing a team may connect to psychological principles, the job does not primarily utilize specific psychological knowledge or skills.

Elementary School Counselor
Page County Public Schools
Aug 2019 - Present
The role of Elementary School Counselor at Page County Public Schools directly incorporates psychological knowledge and counseling skills extensively, making it highly relevant to the Bachelor's degree in Psychology.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Masters of Education in School Counseling
Liberty University
2017 - 2019
ABOUT

I am recent graduate from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a minor in Coaching Education. I am currently interested in counseling and youth focused internship/volunteer opportunities, in addition to full time jobs within the public schools systems. I am currently attending Liberty University to pursue a Masters of Education in School Counseling.At James Madison University, I was member of the Gamma Phi Beta International Sorority. I held the positions of Assistant Administration Vice President and Ritual Assistant. Through Gamma Phi Beta I have been involved in fundraising and volunteering for Girls on the Run International and have served on the marketing committee for an annual event to raise funds. I have participated in Meals on Wheels with this organization. In addition, I was a photographer for The BlueStone Yearbook.Through coaching education, I became certified in the American Sport Education Program (ASEP) coach and listed on the National Coaches Registry for grades K-12. I have served as a volunteer mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County and have participated in the alternative break program to volunteer with the East Coast Migrant Head Start Program in Florida at multiple centers. I have been exposed to cultures outside of the United States during study abroad with the JMU Cross-Cultural Psychology Program to Perugia, Italy and Florence, Italy in May of 2016.

What jobs can you get with a Psychology degree from James Madison University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


After looking through the various jobs that folks with a Psychology degree from James Madison University have taken on, it seems like a big chunk of them have landed roles that aren’t purely about psychology. A lot of graduates did go on to work in fields like healthcare, education, and mental health counseling. For instance, positions like Mental Health Therapist, School Counselor, and Behavioral Health Counselor definitely put their psychology knowledge to good use. Those roles involve direct application of what they learned in school, making them highly relevant and beneficial not just for the graduates but for the people they’re helping too.

On the flip side, many graduates also found themselves in jobs that are somewhat distant from psychology. Roles in sales, human resources, and IT didn’t really use the psychological principles they studied extensively. While some of those jobs may involve understanding human behavior in a broader sense, they primarily focus on skills unrelated to psychology, such as technical skills or administrative tasks. So, while there’s definitely a mix of jobs—some deeply relevant and others more tangential—it's clear that a psychology degree can lead graduates down quite a few diverse paths in the job market!

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Psychology graduates (this is across all Psychology graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to James Madison University):

What kind of career trajectories do Psychology graduates from James Madison University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates from James Madison University with a degree in Psychology have taken various career paths, but many of them tend to land roles closely related to their field of study, especially within the first few years after graduation. A significant number begin their careers as mental health professionals—like therapists and counselors—showcasing a strong alignment with their educational background. For example, many graduates found their way into roles such as mental health counselors, behavior analysts, or case managers soon after finishing their studies. Others have ventured into research positions or educational settings, becoming school counselors or educators. It seems that a lot of graduates are genuinely using their psychology training to pursue fulfilling careers that allow them to make a difference in people's lives.

As we look five to ten years down the road, the trajectories appear to be a mixed bag. While some graduates continue to flourish in mental health roles or move into higher-level positions within educational or counseling settings, others seem to have switched gears into more corporate or administrative roles, such as account managers or human resources positions. It’s interesting to note that a few have successfully integrated their psychology background into research or technical positions, indicating the versatility of a psychology degree. However, there are also graduates who have taken more unexpected paths that veer away from the traditional psychology-related jobs, which may suggest that while a degree in psychology can lead to meaningful work, it also offers a broad range of options that not everyone may directly utilize in their careers. Overall, graduates of JMU in psychology have shown a solid inclination toward pursuing impactful careers, though some may find themselves in jobs that don’t specifically align with their studies.

How hard is a Psychology degree from James Madison University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at James Madison University, or really anywhere, has its challenges, but it can be pretty manageable if you stay motivated and put in the time. You’ll dive into interesting topics about human behavior, brain functions, and research methods, but you’ll also have to tackle some statistics and scientific writing, which can be tricky for some. JMU has a solid reputation for its supportive environment and engaging faculty, so that helps a lot. Overall, it’s not the easiest degree out there, but it’s definitely doable if you're passionate about the subject and keep up with your work!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Psychology.

Do Psychology graduates from James Madison University tend to make good money?

So, looking at this list of JMU Psych grads and their job paths, it’s kind of a mixed bag when it comes to money. Many of them started out in pretty standard entry-level positions, like teaching, counseling, or research roles—which are rewarding but usually don’t come with hefty paychecks right off the bat. Some have climbed the ladder to roles like Senior Account Manager or Vice President, which definitely suggests they’re doing better financially as they gain experience. Jobs in healthcare, like nursing and mental health counseling, tend to pay decent bucks too. Overall, it seems like some have found their way to solid salaries after a few years, while others still might be working up to that level. So, it really depends on the specific field and position—they all seem to have something going for them, but it’s not the instant big bucks you might hope for right away!

What buzzwords do Psychology graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Psychology (this is across all Psychology graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to James Madison University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Psychology?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Psychology (ordered by the average relevance score of their Psychology graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Humboldt State University 85 10
Creighton University 85 11
Chicago State University 85 11
Winona State University 84 10
Butler University 84 12
North Dakota State University 83 13
Wesleyan University 83 10
Stonehill College 83 10
Agnes Scott College 82 10
University of Dayton 81 21
Marist College 81 14
University of Nevada-Reno 81 10
Tennessee State University 81 10
Le Moyne College 81 15
Elon University 80 17
University of the Incarnate Word 80 11
Carleton College 80 12
Berry College 80 11
Misericordia University 80 11
Northwestern University 79 15
California State University, Fresno 79 32
Eastern Washington University 79 11
Emory University 79 13
Clark University 79 13
Susquehanna University 79 12
Regent University 79 11
Michigan State University 78 61
Oregon State University 78 22
Central Washington University 78 12
Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick 78 10
Santa Clara University 78 15
Loyola University Maryland 78 16
Brandeis University 78 11
Providence College 78 11
Rhode Island College 78 14
Indiana University of Pennsylvania 77 14
Hofstra University 77 19
California State University - East Bay 77 25
Marshall University 77 10
Nova Southeastern University 77 10
Muhlenberg College 77 13
Purdue University 76 21
UC Santa Barbara 76 23
Coastal Carolina University 76 15
Washington University in St. Louis 76 13
Yale University 76 13
UCLA 76 11
Minnesota State University, Mankato 75 12
California State University San Marcos 75 19
Chapman University 75 23
Tulane University 75 19
University of Colorado Colorado Springs 75 17
University of St. Thomas 75 11
University of Illinois Chicago 75 17
University of Southern Maine 75 10
California State University Channel Islands 75 23
South University 75 12
Mercy College 75 17
Arcadia University 75 19
State University of New York College at Old Westbury 75 17
University of California, Berkeley 74 36
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 74 43
Baylor University 74 22
The University of Texas at El Paso 74 23
University of Hawaii at Manoa 74 12
UC San Diego 74 10
Southeastern Louisiana University 74 14
California State University, Los Angeles 74 10
Northern Michigan University 74 10
Case Western Reserve University 74 10
University of Michigan-Dearborn 74 19
Sacred Heart University 74 15
Clark Atlanta University 74 16
St. Joseph's College 74 11
St. Ambrose University 74 10
University of Delaware 73 32
Boston University 73 27
University of Maryland 73 28
University of Maryland College Park 73 25
Metropolitan State University of Denver 73 24
Wright State University 73 24
Hampton University 73 18
Brooklyn College 73 20
Stetson University 73 11
University of Utah 72 29
Mississippi State University 72 22
Missouri State University 72 26
California State University-Los Angeles 72 22
Fordham University 72 22
Columbia College 72 17
University of Wisconsin-River Falls 72 16
Pepperdine University 72 19
New Jersey City University 72 13
Western Connecticut State University 72 15
Post University 72 13
Spelman College 72 28
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 71 25
University of Pittsburgh 71 58
Virginia Tech 71 17
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 71 24
University of South Carolina-Columbia 71 14
Eastern Kentucky University 71 20
University of Pennsylvania 71 13
Tarleton State University 71 18
Indiana UniversityPurdue University Indianapolis 71 13
Saint Louis University 71 13
William & Mary 71 17
University of Central Arkansas 71 18
Rutgers University-New Brunswick 71 11
Truman State University 71 15
City University of New York-Herbert H. Lehman College 71 17
Metropolitan State University 71 13
Columbus State University 71 11
Siena College 71 22
Rollins College 71 16
University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts 71 10
Meredith College 71 12
University of Washington 70 70
San Diego State University 70 50
East Carolina University 70 28
California State University, Northridge 70 63
Eastern Michigan University 70 19
The University of Memphis 70 19
University of Miami 70 20
University of Idaho 70 18
University of Minnesota Duluth 70 12
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay 70 12
Lehigh University 70 10
Argosy University 70 30
Yeshiva University 70 10
University of Wisconsin-Madison 69 47
Northeastern University 69 26
Georgia Southern University 69 29
Ball State University 69 19
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale 69 15
Stony Brook University 69 51
University of California, Santa Barbara 69 25
California State University, Chico 69 29
Loyola University Chicago 69 36
University of Tampa 69 21
University of Colorado Denver 69 28
University of Massachusetts Boston 69 25
Ramapo College of New Jersey 69 23
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University 69 12
Westfield State University 69 17
Walden University 69 15
The Catholic University of America 69 19
State University of New York at Albany 69 13
Penn State University 68 77
University of Michigan 68 53
California State University, Fullerton 68 46
Washington State University 68 34
University of Oklahoma 68 19
Western Washington University 68 20
University of Massachusetts Amherst 68 33
Boston College 68 25
University of Louisiana at Lafayette 68 17
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 68 21
American University 68 10
Villanova University 68 16
University of Houston-Downtown 68 22
Bradley University 68 10
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh 68 13
Governors State University 68 15
Delaware State University 68 12
University of Florida 67 64
Temple University 67 64
California State University-Sacramento 67 71
UC Irvine 67 19
Bowling Green State University 67 22
Northern Illinois University 67 38
University of Minnesota 67 42
University of Mississippi 67 30
University of Vermont 67 22
Binghamton University 67 41
Queens College 67 47
University at Albany, SUNY 67 34
Southern Methodist University 67 13
The City College of New York 67 28
University of California, Los Angeles 66 74
North Carolina State University 66 45
Grand Valley State University 66 43
James Madison University 66 45
Louisiana State University 66 31
Towson University 66 61
Clemson University 66 41
University of California, Santa Cruz 66 52
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 66 30
University of North Carolina at Greensboro 66 30
Rutgers University 66 24
The University of Kansas 66 23
University of Alabama at Birmingham 66 32
University of California San Diego 66 13
The University of New Mexico 66 28
St. John's University 66 28
East Tennessee State University 66 11
Bridgewater State University 66 32
St. Cloud State University 66 15
Eastern Illinois University 66 20
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 66 13
Southern Connecticut State University 66 24
State University of New York College at Oswego 66 14
University of California, Merced 66 34
Seattle University 66 12
Salem State University 66 14
Stevenson University 66 10
High Point University 66 10
Framingham State University 66 15
Canisius College 66 10
Southern New Hampshire University 65 63
University of Houston 65 58
University of Missouri-Columbia 65 46
University of Connecticut 65 42
Kansas State University 65 11
Old Dominion University 65 48
DePaul University 65 19
University of Nebraska at Omaha 65 19
University of Massachusetts, Amherst 65 28
Central Connecticut State University 65 16
Texas Woman's University 65 18
Quinnipiac University 65 13
Millersville University of Pennsylvania 65 23
California State University, Monterey Bay 65 28
North Carolina Central University 65 22
Suffolk University 65 12
Roger Williams University 65 14
University of New Orleans 65 14
City University of New York-College of Staten Island 65 20
Worcester State University 65 11
California Lutheran University 65 10
Arizona State University 64 137
The Ohio State University 64 94
University of North Texas 64 70
San Francisco State University 64 80
Texas State University 64 65
Grand Canyon University 64 71
Ohio University 64 36
Kent State University 64 38
New York University 64 38
George Mason University 64 52
Central Michigan University 64 39
Florida Atlantic University 64 44
California State University, Long Beach 64 39
Utah Valley University 64 23
Rowan University 64 49
Syracuse University 64 14
Drexel University 64 18
Kean University 64 50
Cleveland State University 64 25
The University of Southern Mississippi 64 23
The College of New Jersey 64 13
Troy University 64 28
Hunter College 64 36
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi 64 12
University of Southern Indiana 64 11
Adelphi University 64 17
SUNY New Paltz 64 14
Northeastern State University 64 15
Keene State College 64 15
Xavier University 64 17
La Salle University 64 10
McNeese State University 64 10
Denison University 64 10
Brandman University, Part of the Chapman University System 64 14
Florida State University 63 99
Florida International University 63 192
University of Cincinnati 63 32
Oklahoma State University 63 32
Appalachian State University 63 45
University of South Carolina 63 20
University at Buffalo 63 45
California State University-San Bernardino 63 46
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 63 27
Marquette University 63 15
University of Tennessee-Knoxville 63 18
Wichita State University 63 10
Indiana State University 63 10
Salisbury University 63 20
William Paterson University of New Jersey 63 18
Valdosta State University 63 15
University of San Diego 63 13
City University of New York-Brooklyn College 63 22
Fairleigh Dickinson University 63 12
Dallas Baptist University 63 10
Haverford College 63 13
University of Central Florida 62 180
Texas A&M University 62 104
The University of Texas at Austin 62 62
University of California, Davis 62 70
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 62 57
University of California, Riverside 62 69
University of Kentucky 62 35
University of Iowa 62 39
Kennesaw State University 62 34
Oakland University 62 36
University of Illinois at Chicago 62 24
Wayne State University 62 35
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) 62 16
University of California, San Diego 62 26
Weber State University 62 10
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania 62 20
California State University-Dominguez Hills 62 38
University of West Florida 62 26
Howard University 62 24
University of West Georgia 62 16
University of San Francisco 62 24
Gonzaga University 62 11
Longwood University 62 11
SUNY Geneseo 62 19
University of Georgia - Franklin College of Arts and Sciences 62 25
Virginia State University 62 14
Seattle Pacific University 62 13
Jackson State University 62 11
Bowie State University 62 16
University of Louisiana at Monroe 62 12
University of South Florida St. Petersburg 62 12
Brigham Young University 61 47
Indiana University Bloomington 61 54
San Jose State University 61 56
Iowa State University 61 23
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 61 32
Virginia Commonwealth University 61 62
University of Oregon 61 37
Miami University 61 44
Western Michigan University 61 22
Montclair State University 61 54
California State University-Fullerton 61 23
University of Massachusetts Lowell 61 27
Florida Gulf Coast University 61 27
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 61 14
Stephen F. Austin State University 61 23
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 61 14
Saint Leo University 61 32
Loyola Marymount University 61 18
Azusa Pacific University 61 16
University of Maryland Global Campus 61 16
California Baptist University 61 19
St. Olaf College 61 10
Saint Mary's College of California 61 11
Touro College 61 26
Indiana University East 61 16
Georgia State University 60 77
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 60 40
University of New Hampshire 60 47
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 60 27
California State University-Northridge 60 29
Utah State University 60 10
Northern Kentucky University 60 13
University of Nevada, Reno 60 11
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University 60 20
University of North Carolina Wilmington 60 19
University of Missouri-Saint Louis 60 14
National University 60 17
Fayetteville State University 60 16
Colorado Christian University 60 16
Whitworth University 60 11
Liberty University 59 91
Ashford University 59 80
Auburn University 59 35
The University of Texas at San Antonio 59 40
University of Virginia 59 33
University of Southern California 59 21
Portland State University 59 47
Boise State University 59 18
University of Rhode Island 59 28
University of Maryland University College 59 28
Radford University 59 26
Duke University 59 28
Christopher Newport University 59 22
State University of New York College at Cortland 59 12
University of Mary Washington 59 11
Fort Hays State University 59 11
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania 59 10
University of Washington Tacoma 59 11
University of Arizona 58 72
University of Colorado Boulder 58 49
Northern Arizona University 58 38
The University of Alabama 58 20
American Military University 58 23
University of Tennessee, Knoxville 58 45
San Diego State University-California State University 58 26
The University of Akron 58 18
University of North Carolina at Wilmington 58 26
Sonoma State University 58 18
University of South Alabama 58 10
Roosevelt University 58 15
Christian Brothers University 58 10
University of South Florida 57 83
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 57 51
California State University-Long Beach 57 29
College of Charleston 57 29
The George Washington University 57 20
Western Illinois University 57 12
Baruch College 57 10
Capella University 57 42
University of Missouri-Kansas City 57 19
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 57 13
Wilmington University 57 17
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 57 15
North Central College 57 23
Georgia College & State University 57 12
Widener University 57 10
Dickinson College 57 12
Illinois Wesleyan University 57 10
Georgian Court University 57 10
University of Phoenix 56 232
Brigham Young University - Idaho 56 17
The University of Georgia 56 31
Kaplan University 56 22
Stockton University 56 17
California State University, Bakersfield 56 23
California State University, Stanislaus 56 17
The University of Texas at Dallas 55 30
University of Nevada-Las Vegas 55 42
Ferris State University 55 10
University of Maryland Baltimore County 55 32
University of Maine 55 17
University of Northern Colorado 55 10
Northwest Missouri State University 55 11
SUNY Oneonta 55 12
York College of Pennsylvania 55 10
College of the Holy Cross 55 10
Frostburg State University 55 11
Northwestern State University 55 18
City University of New York-Hunter College 55 26
Colorado State University 54 30
West Virginia University 54 30
Monmouth University 54 14
Biola University 54 10
Georgia Gwinnett College 54 13
University of Arkansas 53 25
University of North Florida 53 45
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-New Brunswick 53 10
Augusta University 53 10
Texas Tech University 52 34
Illinois State University 52 28
California State University-Chico 52 10
University of North Georgia 52 26
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 52 20
City University of New York City College 52 12
The University of Texas at Arlington 51 23
Sam Houston State University 51 32
University of Louisville 51 30
Winthrop University 51 15
Lafayette College 51 10
University of Montana 50 11
Lee University 50 10
Georgia College and State University 50 10
Colorado Technical University 49 13
Harvard University 49 11
Northeastern Illinois University 48 14
University of Houston-Clear Lake 48 17
Carroll University 48 10
Abilene Christian University 47 10
Stanford University 46 12
Vanguard University of Southern California 46 11
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 45 12
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville 43 10
University of Notre Dame 41 10
University of Arkansas at Little Rock 39 10
Upper Iowa University 39 10