James Madison University

What is the cost of studying for a year at James Madison University?

For 2024-25, reported full-time undergraduate tuition and required fees totaled about $13,966 for Virginia residents and $31,312 for nonresidents. Tuition is only part of the annual cost: housing, meals, books, transportation, and personal expenses also matter.

• Virginia-resident undergraduate tuition: $8,150; required fees: $5,816.
• Nonresident undergraduate tuition: $25,496; required fees: $5,816.
• Reported typical room and board: $14,368 for the academic year.
• Reported books and supplies: $1,336 for the academic year.

Adding those reported tuition, fee, room-and-board, and book figures produces about $29,670 for a resident and $47,016 for a nonresident. Those are partial planning totals, not JMU's complete cost-of-attendance budgets: they omit such items as transportation and personal expenses. Actual housing and meal choices can also change the amount. Students living off campus should budget their real rent and food costs rather than treating the campus room-and-board figure as their bill.

Published charges differ from net price after grants and scholarships. Reported average net price was $12,977 for students from families earning up to $48,000 and $30,147 for those from families earning more than $110,000. Those income-group averages are not quotes for an applicant; residency, aid eligibility, housing, and enrollment choices affect an individual offer. Eligible students may pursue federal grants and loans, Virginia aid, institutional scholarships, and military or veterans education benefits. Completing the required financial-aid applications by the applicable priority dates is important when comparing actual offers.

What are the work-study opportunities at James Madison University?

JMU students can seek part-time employment while enrolled, including positions on campus. Federal Work-Study is one possible funding arrangement for eligible students; it is not the same thing as a grant paid automatically to everyone who receives financial aid.

Federal Work-Study eligibility depends on a student's financial-aid application and award, and participants generally earn wages for hours worked in an approved job. Other campus positions may be open to students without a Work-Study award. Students should use JMU's student-employment listings and financial-aid information to distinguish positions reserved for Work-Study recipients from ordinary student jobs. An internship may provide academic or career experience, but it is a separate arrangement and is not required of every JMU student.