James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA jmu.edu 20,497 students

James Madison University's campus is nestled in the scenic Shenandoah Valley, offering views of the nearby Massanutten Mountain. Students enjoy a spirited and engaged atmosphere with a strong emphasis on undergraduate education and community involvement. JMU is known for its passionate student body and school pride, fostered by traditions like the "Purple Out" at sporting events. The university's location in Harrisonburg provides access to both outdoor recreation and a vibrant college town environment.

Programs

Analyzed in dataset

Earnings

$47,308

Average graduate, 1 yr after

Outlook

55/100

Avg DegreeOutlook Score

Tuition

$13,576

In-state sticker price

Out-of-state: $30,790/yr

Financial Aid

The sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. James Madison University's grant and scholarship aid lowers the net price for most income brackets. 17% of students receive Pell Grants; 30% take federal loans.

Net Price by Family Income

Academic Year 2025

Income Bracket	Avg Net Price	4-Year Net Cost
$0 – $30K	$10,582	$42,328
$30K – $48K	$12,172	$48,688
$48K – $75K	$17,150	$68,600
$75K – $110K	$23,171	$92,684
$110K+	$28,869	$115,476
Sticker price (no aid)	$13,576	$54,304

Net price = tuition + fees + room & board minus grants and scholarships, by reported family-income bracket. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey via College Scorecard.

Programs at James Madison University

39 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.

Degree Program	DW Score	1-yr Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
Information Sciences Compare across schools →	88	$81,761/yr	Very High	19.2x
Finance Compare across schools →	86	$67,849/yr	Very High	19.9x
Information Science Compare across schools →	85	$80,173/yr	Very High	19.5x
Nursing Compare across schools →	83	$76,490/yr	High	13.7x
Accounting Compare across schools →	83	$71,563/yr	Very High	15.3x
Economics Compare across schools →	79	$62,286/yr	Very High	16.8x
Business Administration Compare across schools →	78	$65,931/yr	High	14.2x
Systems Science and Theory Compare across schools →	74	$65,683/yr	Moderate	17.7x
Health and Medical Administrative Services Compare across schools →	74	$53,913/yr	High	12.8x
Marketing Compare across schools →	72	$61,692/yr	Very High	14.8x
Mathematics Compare across schools →	69	$58,810/yr	Very High	14.3x
Public Policy Compare across schools →	69	$48,396/yr	High	11.8x
Engineering Compare across schools →	67	$71,176/yr	High	15.2x
Hospitality Management Compare across schools →	62	$46,915/yr	High	11.0x
Science, Technology and Society Compare across schools →	59	$54,235/yr	Moderate	13.9x
Political Science Compare across schools →	59	$42,128/yr	Very High	11.6x
International Relations Compare across schools →	56	$44,667/yr	High	11.3x
Geography and Cartography Compare across schools →	54	$45,094/yr	High	10.2x
Chemistry Compare across schools →	51	$45,799/yr	High	7.4x
Linguistics Compare across schools →	51	$45,122/yr	Very High	10.6x
Communication and Media Studies Compare across schools →	51	$42,769/yr	High	11.2x
Health & Physical Education Compare across schools →	51	$35,955/yr	Moderate	11.0x
Mental Health Services Compare across schools →	51	$33,971/yr	Moderate	11.4x
Geosciences Compare across schools →	48	$48,118/yr	High	9.5x
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies Compare across schools →	45	$40,966/yr	High	10.2x
Liberal Arts & Humanities Compare across schools →	44	$49,408/yr	Low	8.9x
Biology Compare across schools →	44	$34,159/yr	High	10.2x
Nutrition & Food Science Compare across schools →	43	$24,860/yr	High	10.0x
History Compare across schools →	42	$29,000/yr	High	9.6x
Psychology Compare across schools →	41	$31,734/yr	High	9.5x
Sociology Compare across schools →	40	$31,513/yr	High	9.4x
Fine Arts Compare across schools →	39	$33,501/yr	Moderate	8.3x
Anthropology Compare across schools →	39	$30,686/yr	High	9.0x
Biotechnology Compare across schools →	37	$41,832/yr	High	6.7x
Music Compare across schools →	37	$36,106/yr	High	7.4x
Social Work Compare across schools →	37	$31,687/yr	Moderate	9.0x
English Compare across schools →	28	$26,049/yr	Very High	8.0x
Philosophy & Religion Compare across schools →	22	$28,712/yr	Very High	4.3x
Theater & Drama Compare across schools →	22	$24,306/yr	Moderate	4.6x