James Madison University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who want a large campus community. no major red flags in the data. solid earnings of $63,300 within 10 years; strong 80% graduation rate.
About This School
James Madison University is a public institution located in Harrisonburg, Virginia with approximately 20,888 undergraduate students enrolled. James Madison University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 72%. The average net price after financial aid is $23,322 per year. The graduation rate is 80%, and the typical graduate earns $63,300 within 10 years of enrollment.
James Madison University is a public research university in Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1908, the institution was renamed in 1938 in honor of the fourth president of the United States, James Madison. It has since expanded from its origins as a normal school and teacher's college into a comprehensive university. It is situated in the Shenandoah Valley, just west of Massanutten Mountain.
This is a strong option for students who want a well-rounded public university experience without taking on crushing debt — graduates leave with a median of just $17,272 in loans, well below the national average, and are earning $63,300 a decade out. The 90% freshman retention rate and 81% graduation rate signal that students who enroll generally stick around and finish, which isn't guaranteed at every school this size. The 76% acceptance rate means it's accessible, but don't mistake that for a school that lacks identity — JMU has a genuine campus culture and strong programs in business, health sciences, and education rooted in its teacher's college roots.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 10% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
James Madison University graduates earn most above the national rate in Information Science/Studies ($113,345 vs $85,294 nationally).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 415 | $67,033 | $52,119 | +$14,914 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 413 | $66,436 | $56,359 | +$10,077 |
| Psychology, General | 330 | $56,212 | $50,706 | +$5,506 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 286 | $87,056 | $88,910 | −$1,854 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 272 | $63,065 | $54,562 | +$8,503 |
| Biology, General | 179 | $62,914 | $57,214 | +$5,700 |
| Marketing | 170 | $89,944 | $69,303 | +$20,641 |
| Information Science/Studies | 149 | $113,345 | $85,294 | +$28,051 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 146 | $58,026 | $53,072 | +$4,954 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 136 | $104,806 | $92,374 | +$12,432 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 130 | $85,137 | $68,257 | +$16,880 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 129 | $104,926 | $83,343 | +$21,583 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (20,888 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
James Madison University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at James Madison University?
James Madison University has an acceptance rate of 72%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is James Madison University hard to get into?
Not especially. James Madison University has an acceptance rate of 72%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does James Madison University cost?
The average net price at James Madison University is about $23,322 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at James Madison University?
James Madison University has a graduation rate of 80%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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