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James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 20,888 Undergrads 81.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$33,276
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$23,550
After Aid
Median Earnings
$72,942
5yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$23,550
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$72,942Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$75,482Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate81.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients17.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time94.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS84.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
71.5%
SAT Avg
1,256
SAT Reading
25th: 60064075th: 680
SAT Math
25th: 57061075th: 660
ACT Composite
25th: 242775th: 29
ROI Sensitivity AnalysisAssuming 4 Years to Graduation
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$629k
+$159k
+$143k
Median Cost$24k/yr
+$545k
+$75k
+$58k
Full Cost$33k/yr
+$510k
+$40k
+$23k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
30
∞
Median Cost$24k/yr
42
69%
Full Cost$33k/yr
52
19%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return128%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-21%
Program ROI Analysis
These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$98,767
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,841
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,914
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,893
Natl Median: $67,097
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (4yr)
$85,137
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,493
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$74,631
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$20,096
Earnings (4yr)
$66,436
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,770
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$17,457
Earnings (4yr)
$104,806
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$312k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$21,150
Earnings (4yr)
$45,225
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$86,681
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
$22,527
Earnings (4yr)
$91,761
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$213k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,487
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$104,926
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$313k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,093
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1905
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,501
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$14,730
Earnings (4yr)
$63,768
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$16,875
Earnings (4yr)
$51,500
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$77,393
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,782
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,016
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$18,546
Earnings (4yr)
$113,345
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$377k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,141
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$68,798
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
BachCIP: 2202
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$61,496
Natl Median: $62,654
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Median Debt
$17,628
Earnings (4yr)
$58,026
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,366
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$17,596
Earnings (4yr)
$89,944
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$18,300
Earnings (4yr)
$75,295
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,033
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$19,700
Earnings (4yr)
$51,882
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3899
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,604
Natl Median: $46,083
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$73,326
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,212
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,626
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$87,056
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,179
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Science, Technology and Society
BachCIP: 3015
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$82,455
Natl Median: $67,452
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$15,271
Earnings (4yr)
$52,991
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$48,774
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,065
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Systems Science and Theory
BachCIP: 3006
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$91,034
Natl Median: $88,036
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$8,758
Earnings (4yr)
$111,224
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$296k
Median Debt
$70,385
Earnings (4yr)
$138,766
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$534k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$150,316
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$634k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$32,834
Earnings (4yr)
$69,342
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,739
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
$33,326
Earnings (4yr)
$59,635
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,444
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$465k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,236
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$456k
Political Science and Government
MastCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,137
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,432
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$248k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,363
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Median Debt
$26,387
Earnings (4yr)
$106,786
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$45,250
Earnings (4yr)
$76,377
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Science, Technology and Society
MastCIP: 3015
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,547
Natl Median: $90,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,379
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,878
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$20,092
Earnings (4yr)
$58,228
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,964
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Doctoral Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
DocCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$65,238
Natl Median: $88,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
DocCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,341
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,592
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
DocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Research and Experimental Psychology
DocCIP: 4227
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.