After James Madison University: graduation, pay and debt
Harrisonburg, Virginia · Public · 20,888 undergrads
81% of James Madison University students finish within six years, the typical student earns $75,482 ten years after starting and graduates leave with $19,500 in federal loans at the median.
The short answers
$75.5k
median pay 10 years after starting college.
81%
finish within six years.
67%
finish in four years.
92%
of first-years come back for year two.
$19.5k
median federal debt at graduation.
82%
of borrowers were paying down their loans three years after leaving.
All the federal numbers
Finishing
Finished in four yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
67%
Finished within six yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
81%
First-years who came back for year twoCollege Scorecard, fall 2024
92%
Men who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
76%
Women who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
85%
Students in that six-year groupIPEDS, students who started in 2017
4,658
Earned a degree or certificate here within eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
82%
Still enrolled here after eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
14%
Students in that eight-year groupIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
4,452
Pay after college
Median pay 6 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard
$62,132
Median pay 10 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard, 2022-23
$75,482
Earning more than $25,000 six years after startingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
79%
Debt and paying it back
Median federal debt, students who graduatedCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
$19,500
Median federal debt, everyone who borrowed (finished or not)College Scorecard, earlier release
$17,272
Median federal debt, students with a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$17,500
Median federal debt, students without a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$17,076
Paying down their loans 3 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
82%
Paying down their loans 5 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
88%
Paying down their loans 7 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
91%
Where these numbers come from
- Admit rate and applicants: IPEDS, fall 2024 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Cost, pay and debt: College Scorecard, 2024-25 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
Updated Oct 31, 2026Spot a mistake?How we get our numbers