Information Science/Studies at James Madison University

James Madison's Information Science program is crushing it—and most families have never heard of it. With graduates earning $80,173 right out of the gate, this program outperforms 95% of similar programs nationwide and beats Virginia's median for this field by nearly $22,000. That's not a small edge; that's a different category of outcome entirely. The modest $21,025 in debt (half the state average) means the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26 is among the best you'll find for any tech-adjacent bachelor's degree.

What makes this particularly notable is the trajectory: earnings jump 21% to $97,364 by year four, suggesting graduates are securing roles with real advancement potential rather than hitting early ceiling jobs. Among Virginia's dozen Information Science programs, only Strayer—a for-profit with dramatically different student demographics—reports higher earnings, and even that edge narrows by year four. JMU's 76% admission rate means this isn't an impossible-to-access program, yet it delivers outcomes that rival far more selective schools.

The bottom line: If your child is considering anything in the information systems, data analytics, or tech management space, this program offers exceptional value. The earnings justify themselves in under four months of work, and the growth pattern suggests employers see JMU graduates as high-potential hires worth developing.