JMU Loans, Tuition, Costs & More

This is the complete guide to JMU tuition, costs and student loans. If you’re considering James Madison University (JMU), you’re likely focussed on that huge, glaring sticker price: $N/A.

If you’re still trying to figure out if you can get into the school, try our college chances calculator for JMU

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    That expensive sticker price can be extremely misleading and does not usually represent the true cost of JMU. The reality is that a huge percentage of students who attend JMU do not pay that number.

    What you are most likely concerned with is what you and your family will pay for James Madison University (JMU), which is dependent on a range of factors from family income to state residency.

    Before we get started, if you have any doubts about your ability to afford JMU and are interested in student loans to support your education, the below vendors specifically lend to JMU students - click any of them to learn more about their rates and requirements.

    Now, let’s break down that scary sticker price first.

    How much is JMU tuition?

    The stated tuition for out-of-state students at James Madison University (JMU) is $28416 while in-state students pay $12016. The dictionary definition of tuition is the “price of payment for instruction.” That’s an important distinction from the total cost of attending JMU.

    Essentially, tuition is only what you pay to attend classes at JMU. The annual charge of $28416 or $12016 often excludes dozens of other miscellaneous expenses, such as housing, textbooks, meals, fees and more. Therefore, the true cost of JMU is much higher than either of these prices (more on this later).

    At the same time, however, tuition does not take into account factors that can help a student or family afford college, such as scholarships, student loans and grants.

    Therefore, although an important benchmark, the $12016 for James Madison University (JMU) is likely not a good indicator of what you can expect to pay if you attend the school.

    What is the total cost of JMU?

    If you’re already thinking of this question, you’re one step ahead of us! And you’re on the right track… .The total cost of attending JMU is $N/A and is much more indicative of how much you will pay over the course of one year to attend the school - with one BIG caveat: total cost excludes financial supports that help reduce the cost of attending school, like scholarships at JMU.

    Still, if you do not plan on receiving financial aid, student loans and the like then the James Madison University (JMU) cost of attendance is the best indicator to consider.

    What does the total cost of JMU include?

    The total cost of JMU includes tuition and other common, material expenses, like textbooks and supplies, room and board, and meal costs, minus the average amount of financial aid and scholarships.

    Importantly, this does not reflect the price you will likely pay based on your income bracket.

    What is the price of room and board at JMU?

    The cost of rooming and dorms at JMU is $4998

    The cost of meals at JMU is $5114.

    JMU does not fully report room and boarding charges.

    How much is JMU out of state tuition?

    Out of state tuition for JMU is $28416.

    How much is James Madison University (JMU) in state tuition?

    In state state tuition for JMU is $12016.

    How can I afford JMU?

    You should use a variety of financial tools to offset the cost of JMU.

    It’s easy to lose track of all the assets at your disposal, but the most common can be categorized into grants, loans, and scholarships.

    At James Madison University (JMU), 0.1532% of students receive a pell grant. Furthermore, 0.3756% of students borrow federal student loans to help pay for the school.

    If you will use student loans to help pay for JMU, these providers below all work with JMU students.

    How much will I pay for JMU?

    This is the million dollar question - literally! JMU students pay a variety of prices to attend the institution, as you already know. A very easy way to determine an average price you can expect to pay is by using your average family income and comparing it to the table below.

    For additional insight, try using the James Madison University (JMU) net price calculator.

    Family Annual Income Average Net Price for JMU
    $0 - 30,000 13426
    $30,001 - 48,000 15052
    $48,001 - 75,000 18412
    $75,001 - 110,000 24050
    $110,001+ 25676

    How much debt will I graduate with from JMU?

    Beyond the years you plan on spending at James Madison University (JMU), the financial repercussions of JMU tuition will stay with you for awhile, especially if you take out loans to finance the education.

    The median debt for students who have completed a degree at JMU is $20500.0. We can break down this number further by household income and student type (see where you might fit in):

    Family Income and Student Types Median Debt from JMU
    $0 - 30,000 Family income 17114.0
    $30,001 - 75,000 Family income 17500.0
    $75,000+ Family income 17251.0
    The median debt for Pell students 18410.0
    The median debt for female students 17950.0
    The median debt for male students 15813.0
    The median debt for first-generation students 17930.0

    Is JMU worth the cost?

    Going to college is an investment, and like all investments, you should look at the ROI of attending James Madison University (JMU).

    Luckily, we can provide some insightful data to help determine whether or not JMU is worth the cost by examining what past graduates are earning now.

    The average salary of students who were working six years after graduating from JMU is $46100 (the median is $44400).

    After 8 years, the average salary for JMU graduates is $N/A.

    10 years out, the average salary for JMU graduates is $63300.

    I think it’s particularly interesting to look at the salary 10 years after graduation, and it’s probably more indicative of whether JMU is worth the cost. The real upside of a college degree is that it puts you on a path where your future salary can increase substantially, and it may be hard to achieve that upside without a college degree.

    For example, after graduating from JMU you may get a job where the salary is not too much more than you’d make without a college degree, and you may have taken out a lot of loans to get there!

    However, if you stay in that position for 5 or 10 years, you will likely begin doubling and tripling what you’re making.

    The future earnings potential is going to be much higher if you go to JMU compared to not attending college at all. Therefore, it’s about maximizing that opportunity and reducing the debt needed to get there.

    How do JMU graduates fare compared to similar schools?

    This is an important question because if you’re considering JMU, you likely have other options on the table.

    Often times, students enroll in the cheapest university available to them. But, as we know from above, this isn’t the whole story.

    For example, you would pay 5% more for a college if you knew the average salary would also be 10% higher, wouldn’t you?

    There’s a lot of reasons why the average salary for JMU students would differ from its peer schools. Perhaps the most popular areas of study align with higher or lower paying careers, or the school has a massive and supportive alumni network.

    Here are just a few related schools to JMU that may be of interest. Click on any one to break down their costs and performance outcomes further.

    How much does JMU cost per semester?

    Assuming there are two semesters at JMU and you are an in-state student, you will pay $6008 per semester. If you are out-of-state, you will pay $14208 per semester.

    How much does JMU cost per year?

    This is effectively the total annual cost of JMU, which is $N/A. However, you can also add room and board, textbooks, and other fees listed above onto that number to better determine how you will really spend in one year of attendance.

    Is it possible to attend JMU for free?

    In theory, yes it is possible to attend JMU for free. If you are a stellar student, you may get a scholarship to cover the entire cost of the education.

    Similarly, if you are a student athlete, you may receive a full scholarship to be on a sports team.

    Unless you are receiving a “full ride” (e.g. full scholarship) to attend JMU, though, it won’t be free. If you take out loans to finance the school, you may pay very little in the near term but all of that money must still be paid off in the long term.

    If you're trying to get in to JMU read about the requirements here