James Madison University — ROI, Cost & Payback
James Madison University charges a net price of $23,322/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $93,288. Graduates earn a median $69,954 ten years after entry, $21,594/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 4.3 years — a 20-year net return of $338,592, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
James Madison University's 4.3-year payback ranks #326 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 75% of them, and #12 of 81 in Virginia.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $23,322/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $93,288 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $69,954 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $21,594/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $20,093 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 4.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $338,592 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 4 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.