James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia · Public, a small city · 20,888 undergraduates
Is it hard to get into JMU?
The middle half of admitted students scored in these ranges: a quarter scored lower, a quarter higher. Fall 2024 admissions, from the College Scorecard.
- What they look at
- High school GPARequired
- Courses takenRequired
- College-prep programRequired
- RecommendationsConsidered
- EssayConsidered
How much does JMU cost?
Sticker prices and what students actually paid after grants, by family income. A year means tuition, fees, room, board, books and other costs.
What a year cost, by family income
| Family income | Average paid after grants |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $14,379 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $14,452 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $16,960 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $22,031 |
| Over $110,000 | $31,907 |
- Room and board on campus
- $14,368 a year
- Books and supplies
- $1,336 a year
- The school's own grants
- 80% of full-time first-years get one, averaging $2,629
Tuition over the years
Tuition and fees for a year, as reported to the federal government.
How much do JMU students borrow?
Federal student loans only, for students who borrowed.
What do JMU graduates earn?
Typical yearly pay of everyone who started here with federal aid, whatever they studied and whether or not they finished.
Do JMU students finish?
Of the students who started full time, first time.
Who goes to JMU?
- Background
- White 72%, Hispanic 9%, Black 5%, Asian 5%, Two or more 6%
- Housing
- Campus housing, 6,481 beds
What do JMU graduates earn, by program?
Every bachelor's program the school awards, with what its graduates earn and owe. The government hides pay for small programs, so some rows have no figure.
Computer science
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 273 | $85,090 | $130,623 | $17,457 |
| Information Science/Studies | 300 | $77,208 | $132,465 | $18,546 |
Engineering
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering, General | 135 | $74,127 | $89,216 | $22,527 |
Business and commerce
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | 174 | $73,848 | $109,781 | $19,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 283 | $63,214 | $87,473 | $15,250 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 23 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 241 | $71,110 | $121,170 | $16,500 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 208 | $52,365 | $74,667 | $17,500 |
| International Business | 46 | Hidden | $101,659 | Hidden |
| Marketing | 338 | $60,746 | $92,491 | $17,596 |
Nursing
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 560 | $83,905 | $86,638 | $20,500 |
Health sciences and kinesiology
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 147 | $28,801 | $66,814 | $19,500 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 131 | $53,880 | $80,210 | $23,250 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 866 | $38,321 | $74,624 | $19,500 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 589 | $45,848 | $67,591 | $19,500 |
Life sciences
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General | 360 | $34,802 | $71,182 | $18,500 |
| Biotechnology | 53 | $61,282 | Hidden | $23,000 |
Math and physical sciences
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Mathematics | 13 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Chemistry | 61 | $56,010 | Hidden | $13,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 47 | $46,362 | $54,108 | $16,875 |
| Mathematics | 73 | Hidden | $80,403 | $18,300 |
| Physics | 31 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Arts and humanities
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General | 99 | $36,666 | $64,031 | $19,500 |
| History | 147 | $36,846 | $58,103 | $15,500 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 67 | $42,508 | $74,561 | $25,000 |
| Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other | 41 | Hidden | $58,129 | $18,500 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 83 | $39,049 | $66,987 | $15,000 |
Education (teaching)
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Education and Teaching | 51 | Hidden | Hidden | $19,126 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 341 | $49,016 | Hidden | $19,500 |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 4 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Fine and performing arts
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 119 | $28,206 | $46,509 | $21,150 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 256 | $38,534 | $53,130 | $19,500 |
| Music | 145 | $51,664 | $52,377 | $19,700 |
General arts and science (major chosen later)
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 287 | $51,954 | $57,634 | $17,628 |
| Science, Technology and Society | 133 | $58,494 | $90,466 | $19,500 |
| Systems Science and Theory | 102 | $72,455 | $105,272 | $21,000 |
Compare JMU with other universities
Side by side: acceptance rates, scores, costs and pay.
Where these numbers come from
College Scorecard release 10152026, Most Recent Cohorts files, fetched 2026-10-20. Test policy: the school's page (opens in a new tab). Tuition history, housing and the school's own grants: the federal IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) survey.
How every figure in this part of the site is sourced, and the check of every link.
Careerhelp is not affiliated with James Madison University. Figures describe past students; check the school's own pages before you apply.
Social sciences