James Madison University
James Madison University is a public research university in Harrisonburg, Virginia, with about 20,888 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 71.52% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $69,954 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $14,250
- 2024 Average Net Price: $23,322 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 71.52% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 20,888 94.7% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 79.72%
- Average SAT Score: 1256
James Madison University: what the data shows
Common questions about James Madison University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is James Madison University?
James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, VA (ZIP 22807).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is James Madison University public or private?
James Madison University is a Public institution.
How much does James Madison University cost?
Published tuition: $14,250 in-state, $31,604 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $23,322.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $11,444 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $12,977 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $16,475 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $22,343 |
| $110,001+ | $30,147 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $57,000.
How hard is it to get into James Madison University?
Admission rate: 71.52%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1256 and midpoint ACT 27.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is James Madison University?
Total enrollment: 20,888 students.
About 95% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at James Madison University?
150%-time completion rate: 79.72%.
First-year retention: 92.0%.
What do graduates of James Madison University earn?
Median earnings: $57,438 six years after entry; $69,954 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $20,093.
17.12% of students receive Pell grants.
What is James Madison University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (5,616 completions)
- Communication and Media Studies (455 completions)
- CIP 511504 (451 completions)
- General Psychology (318 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (274 completions)
- CIP 520201 (234 completions)
- CIP 310504 (188 completions)
- General Biological Sciences (187 completions)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General (168 completions)
- Elementary Education & Teaching (163 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is James Madison University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 71.52%; completion rate 79.72%; median earnings $69,954 at 10 years; net price $23,322. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$14,250
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at James Madison University was $14,250.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$23,322
2024 Value
In 2024 James Madison University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $23,322.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$93,288 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$23,322 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$57,000 4-Year In-State Tuition
$126,416 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for James Madison University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
17.12% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
29.03% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at James Madison University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for James Madison University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $9,176 | $23,654 | $17,924 |
| 2014 | $9,662 | $24,522 | $18,412 |
| 2015 | $10,018 | $25,152 | $19,669 |
| 2016 | $10,390 | $26,164 | $20,036 |
| 2017 | $10,830 | $27,230 | $20,204 |
| 2018 | $12,016 | $28,416 | $21,281 |
| 2019 | $12,206 | $29,106 | $22,169 |
| 2020 | $12,330 | $29,230 | $22,562 |
| 2021 | $12,638 | $29,564 | $22,431 |
| 2022 | $13,092 | $30,152 | $22,465 |
| 2023 | $13,576 | $30,790 | $21,816 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
71.52% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1256
ACT Average: 27
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.3 - 3.5
Estimated Median GPA: 3.40
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
94.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at James Madison University in 2024 is 20,888 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
92.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
65.63% 100% Completion Time
79.72% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 65.63% of students graduating from James Madison University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for James Madison University.
Return on Investment
$20,093 Median Student Debt
$69,954 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
28.72% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
649.87% Return on Investment
2.9 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for James Madison University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
Communication and Media Studies: 455 completions
CIP 51.1504: 451 completions
General Psychology: 318 completions
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 274 completions
CIP 52.0201: 234 completions
CIP 31.0504: 188 completions
General Biological Sciences: 187 completions
Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 168 completions
Elementary Education & Teaching: 163 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 5,616 completions
Most popular programs at James Madison University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for James Madison University graduates.
About
James Madison University is a public institution located in Harrisonburg, VA, offering 76 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 20,888 students. The admission rate is 71.52%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1256. The institution maintains a 79.72% graduation rate. Approximately 17.12% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 76 distinct degree programs, James Madison University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does James Madison University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $14,250 and average net price is $23,322 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into James Madison University?
The admission rate is 71.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for James Madison University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, James Madison University reports midpoint SAT about 1256 and midpoint ACT about 27.
What do graduates of James Madison University earn?
Median earnings are $57,438 six years after entry and $69,954 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at James Madison University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 79.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do James Madison University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $20,093.
How big is James Madison University?
Total enrollment is about 20,888 students in the latest reporting year.
Is James Madison University public or private?
James Madison University is a public institution located in Harrisonburg, VA.
Is James Madison University an HBCU?
No. James Madison University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is James Madison University a tribal college?
No. James Madison University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is James Madison University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, James Madison University does not meet that proxy (reported share 8.8%).
Is James Madison University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for James Madison University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.