Head-to-head comparison
James Madison University vs Hampden-Sydney College: which has better ROI?
Option A Harrisonburg, VA
James Madison University
- Net price / year
- $23,322
- Earnings, 10 years
- $69,954
- Payback
- 4.3 yrs
Option B Hampden-Sydney, VA
Hampden-Sydney College
- Net price / year
- $22,400
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,640
- Payback
- 4.6 yrs
James Madison University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $93,288 in 4.3 years versus 4.6 years at Hampden-Sydney College, on median earnings of $69,954 vs $67,640 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | James Madison University | Hampden-Sydney College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,322 | $22,400 |
| Total net cost | $93,288 | $89,600 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $69,954 | $67,640 |
| Median debt | $20,093 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 4.3 yrs | 4.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $338,592 | $296,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, James Madison University or Hampden-Sydney College?
Hampden-Sydney College, at $22,400 a year after aid versus $23,322 — a gap of $922 a year, or $3,688 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do James Madison University or Hampden-Sydney College graduates earn more?
James Madison University graduates report a median $69,954 ten years after entry, $2,314 more than the $67,640 at Hampden-Sydney College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, James Madison University or Hampden-Sydney College?
James Madison University: its completers carry a median $20,093 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Hampden-Sydney College, a difference of $5,907. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
80% of students finish at James Madison University, against 62% at Hampden-Sydney College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.