Graduates of James Madison University earn median 4-year earnings of $70,627, placing James Madison University in the 73.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,516 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 34.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks James Madison University #432 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major. Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions reports 453 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $67,033, ranked #2 nationally in its major. Communication and Media Studies reports 399 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $66,436, ranked #30 nationally in its major. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing reports 282 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $87,056, ranked #150 nationally in its major. Psychology, General reports 272 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $56,212, ranked #81 nationally in its major.
Graduates of James Madison University earn median 4-year earnings of $70,627, placing James Madison University in the 73.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,516 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 34.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks James Madison University #432 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major. Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions reports 453 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $67,033, ranked #2 nationally in its major. Communication and Media Studies reports 399 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $66,436, ranked #30 nationally in its major. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing reports 282 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $87,056, ranked #150 nationally in its major. Psychology, General reports 272 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $56,212, ranked #81 nationally in its major.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
Lower quartile, 10-year field
How graduate earnings grow across the currently available FE horizons.
Financial justification for the investment.
Graduates of James Madison University earn median 4-year earnings of $70,627, placing James Madison University in the 73.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,516 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 34.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks James Madison University #432 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major. Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions reports 453 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $67,033, ranked #2 nationally in its major. Communication and Media Studies reports 399 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $66,436, ranked #30 nationally in its major. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing reports 282 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $87,056, ranked #150 nationally in its major. Psychology, General reports 272 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $56,212, ranked #81 nationally in its major.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
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. 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 provides context for how James Madison University's health and business concentration aligns with national hiring demand in these sectors. ```
Upper quartile, 10-year field
Graduates of James Madison University earn median 4-year earnings of $70,627, placing James Madison University in the 73.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,516 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 34.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks James Madison University #432 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major. Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions reports 453 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $67,033, ranked #2 nationally in its major. Communication and Media Studies reports 399 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $66,436, ranked #30 nationally in its major. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing reports 282 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $87,056, ranked #150 nationally in its major. Psychology, General reports 272 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $56,212, ranked #81 nationally in its major.
