James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia
A 0–100 composite of ROI, graduate earnings, net price, debt and graduation rate. How it’s scored.
Estimated for a typical student paying the average net price over 4 years.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
The numbers behind the verdict
Lifetime ROI: the long view
Cumulative net gain over a high-school-only earner at different career lengths, with tuition and debt interest already subtracted. Built on IRS-verified federal earnings — not self-reported surveys.
Conservative: holds year-5 earnings flat (no raises). Adjust the assumptions, or see the highest 20-year ROI colleges.
Equity & access
Who the college serves and whether the payoff reaches everyone — earnings ten years after starting (IRS-linked), with access measures from federal enrollment data.
17% gap between the two groups
14% gap between the two groups
19% gap between the two groups
Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity. Federal data does not report earnings by race.
Net price by family income
What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by household income as of 2024.
| Family income | Average net price / yr |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30k | $11,444 |
| $30k–$48k | $12,977 |
| $48k–$75k | $16,475 |
| $75k–$110k | $22,343 |
| $110k+ | $30,147 |
How James Madison University compares
This college against the Virginia and national averages — higher earnings and lower cost/debt are better.
Graduate earnings over time
Median earnings of James Madison University students 10 years after entering, by cohort year as of 2024.
Best-paying majors at James Madison University
Fields of study ranked by their own ROI — earnings five years after graduating against the cost and debt. Click a major for the deep dive.
| Major | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Associate's | $113,644 | $19,500 | +1,177% | Strong return |
| Information Science/Studies | Associate's | $111,126 | $19,500 | +1,130% | Strong return |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | Associate's | $109,603 | $19,500 | +1,102% | Strong return |
| Physics | Associate's | $93,914 | — | +949% | Strong return |
| Systems Science and Theory | Associate's | $101,452 | $21,500 | +936% | Strong return |
| International Business | Associate's | $96,946 | $16,250 | +888% | Strong return |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Certificate | $144,716 | $24,750 | +875% | Strong return |
| Economics | Associate's | $96,390 | $17,000 | +873% | Strong return |
| Accounting and Related Services | Associate's | $88,619 | $22,500 | +695% | Strong return |
| Engineering, General | Associate's | $88,212 | $24,750 | +676% | Strong return |
| Marketing | Associate's | $85,936 | $19,500 | +662% | Strong return |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate | $133,378 | $88,050 | +605% | Strong return |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Associate's | $82,511 | $19,000 | +600% | Strong return |
| Mathematics | Associate's | $82,836 | $20,500 | +599% | Strong return |
| Science, Technology and Society | Associate's | $80,699 | $22,784 | +550% | Strong return |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate's | $79,692 | $19,350 | +546% | Strong return |
| Accounting and Related Services | Certificate | $106,689 | $20,500 | +512% | Strong return |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate's | $74,897 | $19,500 | +456% | Strong return |
| Public Administration | Associate's | $69,552 | $18,250 | +361% | Strong return |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | Associate's | $68,972 | $21,891 | +339% | Strong return |
| Political Science and Government | Associate's | $68,443 | $19,286 | +337% | Strong return |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | Associate's | $67,436 | $20,500 | +315% | Strong return |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | Associate's | $66,783 | $18,138 | +309% | Strong return |
| Public Administration | Certificate | $82,861 | — | +306% | Strong return |
| Communication and Media Studies | Associate's | $66,067 | $20,500 | +289% | Strong return |
Calculate your own ROI
Adjust the assumptions for your situation — the verdict, break-even and chart update live.
ROI at James Madison University
Estimates from federal data; your result will vary. How this works.
Admissions & profile
Location
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.
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