A survey conducted by Lee Becker from the Cox Center at the University of Georgia indicates that JMU School of Media Arts & Design graduates were above the national average in employment and salaries when compared to graduates from similar programs at other universities.

At the national level, 63.3% of journalism and mass communication bachelor's degree recipients held a full time job within 6 months after graduation. For JMU SMAD graduates that figure was 78.9%. SMAD graduates also did better on salaries when compared to graduates of other institutions. The national median annual salary was $30,000 while the average among SMAD graduates was $35,000.

These trends have been consistent from year to year. In the previous survey (2006), SMAD graduates were also well above the national averages for both employment and salaries.

The survey, conducted since 1986, is sponsored by 14 academic and trade associations and provides the best picture of employment trends for recent graduates in programs related to journalism and mass communication. The complete report of national averages and trends is available at: http://www.grady.uga.edu/annualsurvey