Mathematics at James Madison University

James Madison's mathematics graduates earn substantially more than the national median—about $10,000 more in their first year—while carrying slightly less debt than typical math majors. That 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly four months of salary, a manageable starting point for most STEM careers. Within Virginia, JMU sits comfortably in the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile, trailing only the state's most selective institutions like UVA and William & Mary. For a school with a 76% admission rate, these outcomes punch above their weight class.

The 26% earnings jump from year one to year four suggests JMU math graduates are advancing into more specialized roles—perhaps moving into data science, actuarial work, or software development where their quantitative skills command premium salaries. The $74,140 four-year mark exceeds what many liberal arts majors earn a decade into their careers.

For families comparing Virginia public universities, JMU offers nearly identical outcomes to Virginia Tech at this degree level but with a less competitive admissions process. The moderate sample size means these figures represent real graduates, not statistical noise. If your student has strong math aptitude but isn't chasing an Ivy-level acceptance rate, JMU delivers solid financial returns without the crushing debt that saddles many college graduates.