Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $31,735. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for Virginia residents receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $14,250 | $31,604 |
| Housing & meals | $12,584 | $12,584 |
| Books & supplies | $1,254 | $1,254 |
| Personal & travel | $4,560 | $4,560 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$913 | −$913 |
| Total cost of attendance | $31,735 | $49,089 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two. Out-of-state total = in-state total with out-of-state tuition.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
College Scorecard
JMU net price compared with other Virginia colleges
JMU has the 30th-lowest average net price of 42 Virginia colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | University of Lynchburg | $22,235 | 57% | $56,380 |
| 27 | Hampden-Sydney College | $22,400 | 62% | $67,640 |
| 28 | Averett University | $22,925 | 48% | $51,516 |
| 29 | Christopher Newport University | $23,015 | 72% | $60,509 |
| 30 | James Madison University | $23,322 | 80% | $69,954 |
| 31 | Virginia Commonwealth University | $23,433 | 63% | $58,128 |
| 32 | Washington and Lee University | $23,781 | 94% | $94,810 |
| 33 | Roanoke College | $24,503 | 67% | $58,047 |
| 34 | Eastern Mennonite University | $24,588 | 67% | $54,869 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All Virginia colleges →
Why JMU costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Madison University | 72% | $23,322 | 80% | $69,954 | This school |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | 93% | $23,433 | 63% | $58,128 | |
| Virginia Military Institute | 71% | $17,113 | 76% | $77,369 | |
| George Mason University | 87% | $17,915 | 68% | $76,343 | |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 55% | $24,953 | 86% | $81,698 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
James Madison University would cost you $111 less per year than Virginia Commonwealth University, on average.
- Lower sticker price at James Madison University, mostly from lower housing & meal costs (−$3,535).
- Virginia Commonwealth University gives aided families $7,108 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, Virginia resident | JMU | VCU | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $14,250 | $16,945 | −$2,695 |
| Books & supplies | $1,254 | $1,240 | +$14 |
| Housing & meals | $12,584 | $16,119 | −$3,535 |
| Personal & travel | $4,560 | $6,150 | −$1,590 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$913 | −$1,500 | +$587 |
| Sticker price | $31,735 | $38,954 | −$7,219 |
| Average grants | −$8,413 | −$15,521 | +$7,108 |
| You pay | $23,322 | $23,433 | −$111 |
“+” means JMU costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
JMU cost questions
How much is tuition at JMU?
Tuition and fees are $14,250 a year for Virginia residents and $31,604 for out-of-state students.
What is the total cost of attending JMU?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $31,735 a year for Virginia residents living on campus and about $49,089 for out-of-state students.
What do families actually pay at JMU?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $23,322 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $11,444; $48–75k pay $16,475; $110k+ pay $30,147. These figures are for Virginia residents.
How much debt do JMU graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $17,272, and 2.0% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to James Madison University overview