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James Madison University

⌖ Harrisonburg, VA · 55 reportable field-and-credential outcomes

MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff

−$32,628 over 10 years

Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.

At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.

11.4 yrsModeled economic break-even
−12%Modeled 10-year ROI
$69,066Observed earnings · year 5
Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK

Estimated payoff over ten years.

The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.

10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$32,628at year 10
Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
−$273,2880
2
4
6
8
−$32,62810
Years after graduationBreak-even: 11.4 years
FEDERAL COST DATA

Four ways to read college price.

Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.

Published in-state tuition$14,250
Sticker price
Published out-of-state tuition$31,604
Sticker price
Average net price$23,322
Title IV student average
Cost of attendance$31,735
Tuition + living budget
PRICE SOURCECollege reported · annual amount · federal dataset
OBSERVED FEDERAL MEASURES

Cost, completion and earnings context

$23,322Average net price / year
$31,735Cost of attendance
$69,066Median earnings · year 5 after completion
79.7%Completion rate
71.5%Admission rate
20,888Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.

89thEarnings percentile
80thCompletion percentile
EARNINGS PATH

Reported earnings over time

$48,545Year 1
$70,627Year 4
$69,066Year 5

Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.

PROGRAM PAYOFF SPREAD

The college average is not the whole story.

Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.

1Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$150,3162Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Master's Degree$138,7663Information Science/Studies · Bachelor's Degree$113,3454Accounting and Related Services · Master's Degree$111,2245Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree$106,7866Finance and Financial Management Services · Bachelor's Degree$104,9267Computer and Information Sciences, General · Bachelor's Degree$104,8068Accounting and Related Services · Bachelor's Degree$98,767

Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding

BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

Comparable colleges in VA

Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.

Williamsburg, VA

William & Mary

Annual net price
$19,096
Observed earnings · year 5
$71,273
Modeled 10-year ROI
+2%
Open college profile →Richmond, VA

Virginia Commonwealth University

Annual net price
$23,433
Observed earnings · year 5
$61,414
Modeled 10-year ROI
-40%
Open college profile →Newport News, VA

Christopher Newport University

Annual net price
$23,015
Observed earnings · year 5
$58,935
Modeled 10-year ROI
-49%
Open college profile →Fairfax, VA

George Mason University

Annual net price
$17,915
Observed earnings · year 5
$75,373
Modeled 10-year ROI
+21%
Open college profile →
ALL REPORTABLE PROGRAM CATEGORIES

Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes

Federal fieldCredentialEarnings, year 4Federal debt
Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's Degree$150,316Not available
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsMaster's Degree$138,766Not available
Information Science/StudiesBachelor's Degree$113,345$21,025
Accounting and Related ServicesMaster's Degree$111,224Not available
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingMaster's Degree$106,786Not available
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBachelor's Degree$104,926$20,500
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$104,806$21,470
Accounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$98,767$22,484
Engineering, GeneralBachelor's Degree$91,761$25,000
International BusinessBachelor's Degree$91,141$16,154
Systems Science and TheoryBachelor's Degree$91,034$22,301
MarketingBachelor's Degree$89,944$21,040
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$87,056$21,347
EconomicsBachelor's Degree$86,681$18,575
Political Science and GovernmentMaster's Degree$86,137Not available
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree$85,137$19,750
Science, Technology and SocietyBachelor's Degree$82,455$23,875
Public AdministrationMaster's Degree$81,363Not available
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesBachelor's Degree$77,393$21,118
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsMaster's Degree$76,377Not available
MathematicsBachelor's Degree$75,295$20,876
ChemistryBachelor's Degree$74,631$25,332
Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree$73,326$20,000
Public AdministrationBachelor's Degree$71,626$19,500
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesMaster's Degree$69,342Not available
International Relations and National Security StudiesBachelor's Degree$68,798$18,460
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied ProfessionsBachelor's Degree$67,033$21,500
Communication and Media StudiesBachelor's Degree$66,436$21,502
BiotechnologyBachelor's Degree$65,893$20,209
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesBachelor's Degree$65,770$19,975
Hospitality Administration/ManagementBachelor's Degree$65,016$22,250
Geography and CartographyBachelor's Degree$63,768$19,800
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$63,065$21,500
Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$62,914$23,000
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesBachelor's Degree$62,366$18,398
Legal Research and Advanced Professional StudiesBachelor's Degree$61,496$25,000
AnthropologyBachelor's Degree$60,841$20,500
Education, OtherMaster's Degree$59,635Not available
Philosophy and Religious Studies, OtherBachelor's Degree$59,604$24,734
Foods, Nutrition, and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$59,501$19,000
Special Education and TeachingMaster's Degree$59,379Not available
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessMaster's Degree$58,878Not available
Education, GeneralMaster's Degree$58,739Not available
Student Counseling and Personnel ServicesMaster's Degree$58,228Not available
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesBachelor's Degree$58,026$23,250
English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree$57,487$22,500
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesBachelor's Degree$57,179$22,714
Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$56,212$23,000
HistoryBachelor's Degree$55,782$20,500
Fine and Studio ArtsBachelor's Degree$54,093$23,001
Social WorkBachelor's Degree$52,991$18,989
MusicBachelor's Degree$51,882$20,968
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesBachelor's Degree$51,500$22,375
SociologyBachelor's Degree$48,774$19,168
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftBachelor's Degree$45,225$18,500

Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.