National university
#10 Best colleges in VirginiaJames Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA · Public · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $23,322 a year
Median debt at graduation: $20,093 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Campus tour
James Madison University Campus Tour · From the college’s official YouTube channel. Plays from YouTube when you tap it.
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in America#65 of 950
- Best colleges for social work in America#42 of 605
- Best colleges for nursing in America#80 of 1,068
- Best colleges for accounting in America#85 of 1,132
- Best colleges for marketing in America#70 of 834
- Best colleges for business in America#146 of 1,563
Show 20 more
- Best colleges for education in America#132 of 1,318
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#124 of 1,238
- Best colleges for finance in America#76 of 744
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#209 of 1,829
- Best colleges in America#223 of 1,829
- Best colleges for psychology in America#176 of 1,418
- Best test-optional colleges in America#194 of 1,481
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#179 of 1,358
- Best colleges for English in America#170 of 1,283
- Best colleges for history in America#176 of 1,247
- Best colleges for art and design in America#170 of 1,187
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#181 of 1,215
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#180 of 1,162
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#175 of 1,116
- Best colleges for music in America#169 of 1,063
- Best colleges for engineering in America#136 of 749
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in America#150 of 693
- Best colleges for economics in America#173 of 788
- Best value colleges in America#155 of 674
- Best large colleges in America#59 of 256
In Virginia
- Best colleges for social work in Virginia#1 of 15
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in Virginia#3 of 24
- Best colleges for education in Virginia#4 of 32
- Best colleges for marketing in Virginia#2 of 15
- Best colleges for psychology in Virginia#6 of 41
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in Virginia#5 of 34
Show 17 more
- Best colleges for accounting in Virginia#4 of 27
- Best colleges for business in Virginia#7 of 47
- Best colleges for history in Virginia#6 of 40
- Best colleges for nursing in Virginia#5 of 33
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Virginia#6 of 38
- Best colleges for English in Virginia#6 of 38
- Best colleges for mathematics in Virginia#6 of 38
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in Virginia#6 of 38
- Best colleges for chemistry in Virginia#6 of 36
- Best colleges for music in Virginia#6 of 34
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Virginia#9 of 51
- Best colleges for engineering in Virginia#4 of 22
- Best colleges for art and design in Virginia#6 of 33
- Best colleges in Virginia#10 of 51
- Best colleges for finance in Virginia#2 of 10
- Best colleges for economics in Virginia#6 of 27
- Best test-optional colleges in Virginia#10 of 43
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.80%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.92%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,256 · ACT 26.5
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.17 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$10,620
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $31,735 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 21,006 |
|---|---|
| Men and women Undergraduates, fall 2023 (College Scorecard) | Men 44% · Women 56% |
| First-generation students Share of students who are first-generation, by the College Scorecard’s definition | 21% |
| Total students | 22,758 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $23,322 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $31,735 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $20,093 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 80% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients Finishing within 6 years (College Scorecard) | 82% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students Finishing within 6 years (College Scorecard) | 82% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years Borrowers who repaid at least $1 of principal within 3 years (College Scorecard) | 82% |
| First-year retention | 92% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $69,954 |
| Admission rate | 72% |
| Application fee Undergraduate application fee, 2023–24 (IPEDS) | $70 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 17% |
| Average SAT | 1256 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 600–680 |
| SAT math | 570–660 |
| ACT composite | 24–29 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Very good · Top 27% (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Information science | |
| Finance | |
| Computing and information science | |
| Accounting | |
| Engineering (general) | |
| International business | |
| Systems Science and Theory | |
| Marketing | |
| Nursing | |
| Economics | |
| Business administration | |
| Science, Technology and Society | |
| Health administration | |
| Mathematics | |
| Chemistry | |
| Political science | |
| Public administration | |
| International relations | |
| Counseling and mental health | |
| Communication studies | |
| Biotechnology | |
| Speech-language pathology | |
| Hospitality management | |
| Geography | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | |
| Biology | |
| Linguistics | |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | |
| Anthropology | |
| Other philosophy and religious studies | |
| Foods, Nutrition, | |
| Liberal arts | |
| English | |
| Writing and rhetoric | |
| Psychology | |
| History | |
| Fine arts | |
| Social work | |
| Music | |
| Geology and earth science | |
| Sociology | |
| Theatre |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Allied health, Applied mathematics, Managerial economics, Physics, Special education, Teacher education, Teaching English as a second language.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Health professions | |
| Business | |
| Communication | |
| Social sciences | |
| Parks, recreation and fitness |
Campus life
| Setting | City |
|---|---|
| Part-time undergraduates | 5% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 3% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $13,056 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Sun Belt Conference |
| ROTC | Army · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 17 to 1 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 81%Of instructional faculty, fall 2023 (College Scorecard) |
| Endowment per student | $6,348Endowment at the end of fiscal year 2023, per full-time-equivalent student (IPEDS) |
| Dorm space | For about 31% of studentsCampus beds divided by undergraduate enrollment. Not how many students live on campus (IPEDS) |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD)About 12 miles away in a straight line (OurAirports) |
| Town population | 51,3922020–2024 five-year estimate (U.S. Census Bureau) |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | WashingtonAbout 105 miles away in a straight line (U.S. Census Bureau) |
| Average temperature in January | 32°F1991–2020 normal, from DALE ENTERPRISE, VA US, about 4 miles away (NOAA) |
| Average temperature in July | 75°F1991–2020 normal, from DALE ENTERPRISE, VA US, about 4 miles away (NOAA) |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.02 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.01 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.00 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.03 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is James Madison University’s Compass Score?
- Excellent (grade A-). It ranks in the top 13% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does James Madison University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $23,322 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into James Madison University?
- James Madison University admitted 72% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do James Madison University’s graduates do?
- 80% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $69,954; the median federal debt at graduation is $20,093.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 232423
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (high research)
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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Colleges like this one
The same kind of school first, then the closest in selectivity, size and cost.
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