At $21,816/yr net price, James Madison University graduates earn $69,954/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $35,954/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $21,816 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $87,264 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $69,954/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$35,954/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.4 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 80.9% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $20,093 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,582/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,172/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,150/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,171/yr |
| $110,001+ | $28,869/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Master | $116,083 | $88,050 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $95,739 | $29,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $91,744 | $24,750 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $72,659 | $19,500 |
| Information Science/Studies. | Bachelor | $72,290 | $19,500 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Master | $68,965 | $46,918 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor | $67,380 | $19,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Master | $66,377 | $20,500 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | Doctoral | $65,238 | |
| Business/Managerial Economics. | Bachelor | $64,493 |
The Risk Factor
80.9% of students at James Madison University graduate within 6 years. Most students who start here finish their degree.
Analysis
James Madison University gives you a solid financial return. You leave with a median debt around one-third of your first-year earnings, and an 80.9% graduation rate means you are likely to actually finish and collect that payoff. The 90% retention rate tells you people who start stay.
The clearest wins are in tech and business. Computer and Information Sciences and Information Science both land you above $72,000, roughly $9,000 more per year than Nursing, while carrying the same debt load near $19,500. Finance and Business Economics also clear the mid-$60,000s. All of these pull ahead of the school-wide median, so your major choice at JMU matters more than the sticker price.
Nursing pays the least of the listed top programs but still clears $63,000 with the lowest debt on the list. Beyond these five programs, no salary data is listed, so if you are drawn to fields outside tech, business, or nursing, you are betting on the median rather than a proven program number. That is the main risk here: the strong returns cluster in a handful of majors.
Cost tracks family income closely. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $10,600 a year, less than half the $28,900 charged to families over $110,000. The steepest jump hits the $48,000 to $110,000 range, where price climbs from $17,150 to $23,171. If you fall in that middle band, run the numbers carefully, because you get less discount than lower-income families but pay nearly as much as the wealthiest.
JMU fits you if you are heading into computing, finance, or nursing and want a public-school price with a high chance of finishing. If your intended field isn't represented in the earnings data, weigh the general $69,954 median before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is James Madison University worth the cost for the tuition?
JMU's net price of $21,816 per year is reasonable for a public university, and graduates earn $69,954 annually after 10 years. With median debt of $20,093, most students can manage loan payments on typical starting salaries.
What are the highest paying majors at James Madison University?
Allied health programs lead with $116,083 average earnings, followed by nursing at $95,739 and business at $91,744. Computer science and information systems both average around $72,000, which is solid but not exceptional for tech fields.
Does James Madison University have good financial aid?
The $21,816 net price suggests decent financial aid for in-state students, though this varies significantly by family income. Out-of-state students typically pay much more and should carefully consider the return on investment.
Is James Madison University a good investment compared to other Virginia schools?
JMU offers middle-tier value among Virginia public universities with an 81% graduation rate and manageable debt levels. The school works well for health sciences and business majors, but other programs may not justify the cost compared to community college transfers or in-state alternatives.