Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Small city

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, Virginia. 20,888 undergraduates. Admits 72% of applicants.

80%Graduation rate25 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$23,550Average net price per year18% above the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$75,482Median earnings 10 years after starting28% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$19,500Median debt at graduation10% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($19,500) equals 26% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($75,482).

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$14,379
$30,000–$48,000$14,452
$48,001–$75,000$16,960
$75,001–$110,000$22,031
Over $110,000$31,907

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $14,620 in-state, $32,230 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate80%54%
Return for second year92%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$62,132$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$75,482$58,912
Median debt at graduation$19,500$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

86 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Information Science/Studies151$77,208$132,465$18,828
Computer and Information Sciences, General137$85,090$130,623$19,500
Finance and Financial Management Services112$71,110$121,170$16,500
Accounting and Related Services96$73,848$109,781$19,500
Systems Science and Theory52$72,455$105,272$24,000
International Business12—$101,659—
Economics80$60,641$96,140$16,500
Marketing168$60,746$92,491$18,125
Science, Technology and Society62$58,494$90,466$19,375
Engineering, General69$74,127$89,216$22,554
Business Administration, Management and Operations153$63,214$87,473$16,500
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing274$83,905$86,638$22,083
Public Administration46$52,411$80,883$13,353
Mathematics30—$80,403$18,300
Health and Medical Administrative Services62$53,880$80,210$24,125
Political Science and Government121$46,097$75,394$19,500
Hospitality Administration/Management123$52,365$74,667$18,500
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions451$38,321$74,624$19,500
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services33$42,508$74,561$25,000
International Relations and National Security Studies59$51,107$73,980$20,012
Communication and Media Studies439$48,809$73,558$20,500
Geography and Cartography52$46,229$72,159$16,121
Biology, General181$34,802$71,182$19,500
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies70$47,879$70,180$19,500
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness317$45,848$67,591$19,500
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies46$39,049$66,987$15,000
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services76$28,801$66,814$20,402
English Language and Literature, General60$36,666$64,031$21,500
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services20—$61,734—
Biotechnology21$61,282—$23,500
Psychology, General298$37,518$59,276$19,500
Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other27—$58,129$19,750
History78$36,846$58,103$17,400
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities141$51,954$57,634$21,350
Social Work48$40,442$57,435$16,125
Chemistry33$56,010—$13,000
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences21$46,362$54,108$19,125
Fine and Studio Arts141$38,534$53,130$19,500
Music76$51,664$52,377$19,700
Sociology57$42,238$51,191$22,000
Anthropology32$24,553$51,153$26,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods203$49,016—$19,726
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft56$28,206$46,509$20,800
Special Education and Teaching21——$19,126
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language3———
Applied Mathematics5———
Physics16———
Business/Managerial Economics7———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

72%Admission rate
1,256Average SAT of admitted students
24–29ACT middle 50%
17:1Students per faculty member
17%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does James Madison University cost per year?
The average net price at James Madison University, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $23,550 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do James Madison University graduates earn?
Former James Madison University students earn a median of $75,482 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at James Madison University?
80% of James Madison University students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do James Madison University graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from James Madison University is $19,500. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.