James Madison University

James Madison University's published cost of attendance is $31,735, but need-based aid meaningfully reduces what most families pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $11,444, middle-income families pay around $16,475, and higher-income families pay approximately $30,147.

Azimuth ranks James Madison University #822 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As with all income-band figures, these are medians within each band; individual aid packages vary, so some families pay more and some pay less than the figures shown.

James Madison University participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and the university's public-tuition structure keeps headline costs lower than at many private institutions. The gap between sticker price and net price is most pronounced for low-income families, where need-based grants and scholarships do the heaviest lifting — a pattern consistent with Virginia's public higher-education aid framework.

Families applying for aid use the FAFSA, and Virginia residents may also qualify for state grant programs that further reduce out-of-pocket costs. For a fuller picture of how published costs compare with what families actually pay, see the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/).

Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,093, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $37,285; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $70,627, median federal debt of $20,093 projects to a monthly payment of about $227 under standard ten-year repayment.

For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of James Madison University earn median earnings of $70,627 four years after enrollment, placing James Madison University in the 73.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).

Graduates earn about $5,516 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 34.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to VA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $34,020 — the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential.

The degree mix at James Madison University leans toward Health, which accounts for 15% of graduates, followed by Social Sciences at 9% and Arts at 6%. Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions combines strong enrollment with solid earnings, making it a key contributor to the institution's overall return profile.

Azimuth ranks Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions #2 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 453 graduates earning median earnings of $67,033. The Communication and Media Studies program graduates 399 students with median earnings of $66,436, and Azimuth ranks Nursing #188 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 282 graduates earning median earnings of $87,056.

Among the largest programs, Psychology, General program graduates 272 students and The Kinesiology program graduates 256 students, with median earnings of $56,212 and $63,065 respectively.

James Madison University's program mix is anchored in health, business, and applied-professional fields — a portfolio that reflects the university's identity as a comprehensive public institution in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions is the largest program with 453 graduates, followed by Communication and Media Studies, Nursing, Psychology, General, and Kinesiology.

Health is the dominant program family at 15% of degree output, with Social Sciences at 9% and Arts at 6% rounding out the core. Across 47 programs serving roughly 4,687 students annually, 40 meet Azimuth's [program-ranking threshold](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).

The strongest national ranks cluster in applied and quantitative fields. Azimuth ranks Information Science/Studies #5 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 155 graduates earning $113,345.

Azimuth ranks Finance #41 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $104,926 — the combination of strong pay and 140 graduates makes it a notable contributor to the university's overall earnings profile. Azimuth ranks Digital Marketing #16 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $89,944.

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions and Communication and Media Studies are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly into stable, in-demand roles — particularly in nursing, allied health, and financial services. Nursing and Psychology, General serve as broader applied-professional tracks where four-year earnings reflect direct labor-market placement rather than graduate-school deferral.

The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how James Madison University's health and business concentration aligns with national hiring demand in these sectors. ```