James Madison University

www.jmu.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$7,914

2.99% growth from 2022

2023 Average Net Price

$26,317

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2023 Acceptance Rate

76.2%

35,750 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

22,758

89.7% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

80.9%

3,768 Graduates

About

James Madison University is a higher education institution located in Harrisonburg city, VA. In 2023, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at James Madison University were Community Health Services (415 degrees awarded), Speech Communication & Rhetoric (413 degrees), and General Psychology (330 degrees).

In 2023, 5,488 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at James Madison University. 61.5% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 38.5% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (4,151 degrees), 11 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (377 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at James Madison University is $7,914, which is $−16,661 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at James Madison University was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 3,138 total borrowers.

Photo by Taber Andrew Bain

Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at James Madison University is $7,914, which is $16,661 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $26,317.

In 2023, 88% of undergraduate students attending James Madison University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 30% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$7,914

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at James Madison University was $7,914. The cost of tuition at James Madison University is $−16,661 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

This chart compares the tuition costs of James Madison University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$26,317

2023 Value

44%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 James Madison University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $26,317. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of James Madison University grew by 44%.

This chart compares the average net price of James Madison University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$12,040

Room and Board

$1,176

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at James Madison University was of $12,040 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 4.22% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,176. The cost of books and supplies increased by 7.1% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at James Madison University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

88%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

30%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

88% of undergraduate students at James Madison University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a growth of 151% with respect to 2022, when 35% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at James Madison University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at James Madison University was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 3138 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

James Madison University received 35,750 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 16.3% annual growth. Out of those 35,750 applicants, 27,258 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 76.2% acceptance rate.

There were 22,758 students enrolled at James Madison University in 2023. 19% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

James Madison University has an overall enrollment yield of 18.1%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

76.2%

Acceptance Rate in 2023

27,258

Accepted Out of 35,750

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of James Madison University was 76.2% (27,258 admissions from 35,750 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 78.3%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants grew by 16.3%, while admissions grew by 13.3%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of James Madison University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

19%

Submission Percentage (2023)

951

Scores Submitted (2023)

19% of enrolled first-time students at James Madison University in 2023 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

James Madison University had a total enrollment of 22,758 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at James Madison University is 20,409 students and the part-time enrollment is 2,349. This means that 89.7% of students enrolled at James Madison University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at James Madison University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 73.8% White, 7.68% Hispanic or Latino, 5.11% Asian, 5.04% Two or More Races, 4.62% Black or African American, 0.132% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.123% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at James Madison University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (42.8%), followed by White Male (32.1%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (4.63%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (49%), followed by White Male (18.3%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (4.48%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

89.7%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at James Madison University in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 22,758 students. The full-time enrollment at James Madison University is 20,409 and the part-time enrollment is 2,349. This means that 89.7% of students enrolled at James Madison University are enrolled full-time compared with 68.2% at similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at James Madison University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

90%

2023 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. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at James Madison University was 90%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (74%), James Madison University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at James Madison University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
16,786 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
1,748 enrolled students
Asian
1,164 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at James Madison University is 73.8% White, 7.68% Hispanic or Latino, 5.11% Asian, 5.04% Two or More Races, 4.62% Black or African American, 0.132% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.123% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Masters Colleges and Universities is 50.1% White, 17.7% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.4% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 546 students (2.4%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2023, 1,260 more women than men received degrees from James Madison University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at James Madison University is white (4,151 degrees awarded). There were 11 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (377 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at James Madison University is Community Health Services (415 degrees awarded), followed by Speech Communication & Rhetoric (413 degrees) and General Psychology (330 degrees).

In 2023, the most specialized majors across all degree types at James Madison University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (327 degrees awarded), Communications (425 degrees), and History (77 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at James Madison University are Elementary & middle school teachers (1,667,146 people), Secondary school teachers (598,957 people), Other managers (471,345 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (468,056 people), and Education administrators (363,066 people).

The most specialized majors at James Madison University in 2023 are Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (327 degrees awarded), Communications (425 degrees), History (77 degrees), Social Sciences (354 degrees), and Education (586 degrees) (as of 2023).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Diagnostic medical sonographers

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at James Madison University are Diagnostic medical sonographers, Surgeons, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, Physicians, and Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists

The most specialized majors at James Madison University are Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (327 degrees awarded), Communications (425 degrees), History (77 degrees), Social Sciences (354 degrees), and Education (586 degrees) (as of 2023).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at James Madison University are Elementary & secondary schools (835,072 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (557,296 people), Legal services (398,499 people), Computer Systems Design (318,518 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (265,460 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by James Madison University.

Most Common (2023)

Community Health Services
415 degrees awarded
Speech Communication & Rhetoric
413 degrees awarded
General Psychology
330 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common bachelors degree concentration at James Madison University was Community Health Services with 415 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at James Madison University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

2,114

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

3,374

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 2,114 degrees were awarded to men at James Madison University, which is 0.627 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (3,374).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at James Madison University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 145 degrees were awarded to men at James Madison University in Sport & Fitness Management, which is 3.02 times more than the 48 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 342 degrees were awarded to men at James Madison University in Community Health Services, which is 4.68 times more than the 73 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

65%

100% Completion Time

82%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 65% of students graduating from James Madison University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 82% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 82% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Masters Colleges and Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Male

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at James Madison University is Male and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Non-resident Alien Male students have the highest graduation rate (65.7%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1.49% of graduates (56 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
4,151 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
377 degrees awarded
Asian
263 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at James Madison University is white (4,151 degrees awarded). There were 11 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (377 degrees).

2.06% of degree recipients (113 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

White Female
2,542 degrees awarded
White Male
1,609 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
245 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at James Madison University is white female (2,542 degrees awarded). There were 1.58 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1,609 degrees).

Operations

James Madison University has an endowment valued at nearly $135M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 5.36M (3.96%) compared to the 5.72% average return (2.84M on 49.7M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2023, James Madison University had a total salary expenditure of 640M. James Madison University employs 388 Professors, 283 Associate professors and 204 Assistant professors. Most academics at James Madison University are Male Professor (220), Female Professor (168), and Female Associate professor (153).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at James Madison University are: Office and Administrative Support, with 390 employees, Management, with 385 employees, and Service with 370 employees.

Endowment

$135M

2023 Endowment

9.7%

growth from 2022

James Madison University has an endowment valued at about $135M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The endowment of James Madison University grew 9.7% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $85.6M higher than than the median endowment of Masters Colleges and Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at James Madison University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$246M

2023 Salaries

growth from 2022

In 2023, James Madison University paid a median of $246M in salaries, which represents 38.4% of their overall expenditure ($640M) and a 9% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 6.77% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 3.19% decline between 2020 and 2021.

The median for similar Masters Colleges and Universities is 36.1M (39.6% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$102M

Instructional Salaries

1,048

Number of Employees

In 2023, James Madison University paid a total of $102M to 1,048 employees working as instructors, which represents 41.5% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $1.12M (2.97%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

388 Employees

Office and Administrative Support

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

390 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at James Madison University were Professor with 388 employees, Associate professor with 283 employees, and Assistant professor with 204 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at James Madison University were Office and Administrative Support with 390 employees, Management with 385 employees, and Service with 370 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Male Professor
Female Professor
Female Associate professor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at James Madison University was Male Professor with 220 employees, Female Professor with 168 employees, and Female Associate professor with 153 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at James Madison University.

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