Tuition and Fees
Email: ubo@jmu.edu
Phone: (540) 568-6505
Student Success Center, Room 5100
University Business Office Website
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fee charges are available online at the University Business Office website. Students can utilize the Cost of Attendance Calculator to see the estimated cost of attendance for their program of study. The tuition and fees listed contribute to general maintenance and operation, instruction, and other university service costs, including recreational and health-service facility costs. The fees also support student activities such as the Student Government Association, University Program Board and student publications.
The amounts listed for tuition do not include additional tuition for certain academic programs, academic fees, course fees or the cost of books or supplies. Certain courses offered through the College of Business and the School of Nursing require additional tuition charges. Some graduate programs have specific tuition rates. Specialized tuition rates for graduate programs can be found at the UBO website.
The university reserves the right to provide some or all instruction and related academic activities through alternative methods of delivery, including remote delivery. It also reserves the right to change the method of delivery before or during an academic term in the event of a health or safety emergency or other circumstance when it determines that such change is necessary or in the best interests of the campus community. Tuition and mandatory fees will not be reduced or refunded if the university changes the delivery method for any or all of an academic session.
In the event that circumstances beyond the control of the university render the continued provision of certain auxiliary services or programs, including housing and dining services, pursuant to the normal course of operations impossible, unsafe or otherwise impracticable, the university reserves the right to cease or alter the means of delivery of such services or programs. In such an event, payments of the housing fee, dining fee and comprehensive fee, which funds the provision of certain services or programs, previously made by the student may be refunded on a pro rata basis for the period for which such services or programs were altered or made unavailable to the student. The student understands that any refund of the housing, dining or comprehensive fee issued by the university pursuant to this paragraph may be subject to modification or reduction, to the extent the university reasonably deems necessary, in order to address costs already incurred by the university in preparing and providing all such services and/or programs.
Audit and internship registrations are billed at the same rate as for-credit courses. Departmental examination for credit incurs a nonrefundable fee billed to the student account.
The university reserves the right to adjust tuition and fee charges because of rising costs or other conditions upon approval of the JMU Board of Visitors.
For a full description of the tuition and fee rates, refer to the University Business Office website.
Billing Policies
Students and their Authorized Users will be notified by email when their initial electronic billing statement is available in Madison Money Manager (M3).
Students are responsible for reviewing their account in MyMadison/M3 after any registration, course, or meal-plan change and for paying the full balance by the due date to avoid late fees and holds. Students are strongly encouraged to set their parents up as "Authorized Users" in the M3 system to assure the timely payment of their student account and to avoid unnecessary delays in communicating information.
Students are expected to access financial information through M3 in MyMadison. Failure to receive email notification of billing statements will not grant immunity in financial matters. Failure to attend or to pay does not cancel charges. Failure to access available data through self-service access via MyMadison or to read and comply with university regulations will not exempt students from financial penalties. To qualify for a refund or release of charges a student must officially drop a course by the drop/add deadline posted by the Office of the Registrar.
Payment of Tuition and Fees
Payments may be made in person at the University Business Office, through the mail, or by check or credit card online. More information about payment options is available online at the University Business Office website.
Payment arrangements must be finalized prior to the due date in order to prevent penalties on the student account. Payment may be made by any combination of personal payments, installment payment plan and/or financial aid that covers the entire balance due. Personal payments may be made by a combination of personal check, cash, money order, cashier's check, electronic check and credit cards. A list of payment options may be found at the UBO website.
Debts owed to the university are governed by the following policies:
- Until a student's account is paid in full, they will be ineligible for readmission or registration for a future semester.
- Upon recommendation of the Director of the University Business Office and with the approval of the Associate Vice President for Finance, students in debt to the university may be suspended from their classes or may be withdrawn.
- A $50 per check fee is assessed for electronic or paper checks returned unpaid to the university. If a check is returned, the University Business Office staff will notify the student by email. If the student does not make appropriate alternative payment as specified, the student's class registration will be canceled and the student may be withdrawn from the university. When a check is returned, any future payment by personal check will require 15 business days to clear before a hold is released.
- There is a late fee applied to all delinquent accounts. If a student has a balance due that is not covered by financial aid or the installment payment plan by the payment due date, a late payment fee will be applied to the account which cannot be waived. Financial aid must be accepted and the installment plan must be set up by the due date to avoid the late payment fee. The late payment fee is 3% of the balance due.
Collection of Past Due Accounts
Outstanding Debts/Delinquent Accounts
Students with outstanding debts are denied any registration activity and receipt of a diploma until all debts are paid in full, except as required by federal or state laws and regulations. Student accounts are subject to the financial policies of James Madison University, as specified in the undergraduate catalog. Unless students resolve the debt, the university will advance the matter to the next step in the collection process. Specific collection activities and university collection agents may be found at the UBO website.
Collections in the Commonwealth of Virginia
The university pursues debt in accordance with the requirements set forth by the Commonwealth of Virginia in the Virginia Debt Collection Act. Virginia state law requires that the university make every attempt to collect past due amounts owed to state agencies. If, after 60 days, full payment of a debt has not been received, the student account will be placed with a collection agency or the Virginia Office of the Attorney General. Accounts turned over to the Office of the Attorney General are subject to additional fees and penalties pursuant to Virginia law.
Students also risk tarnishing their credit rating and will be subject to further enforcement proceedings. Collection efforts are costly to the student. Avoid them by paying on time. Collection fees cannot be appealed. If a student finds that his/her account has been referred to a collection company, they should contact the company immediately to make payment arrangements.
Additionally, the account can be listed by the Credit Bureau as a bad debt, a delinquent account can be collected in full from income tax refunds, lottery winnings, or other refunds due from the state, and the Attorney General's Office may pursue a court judgement on the account. Timely payment is strongly encouraged so that collection efforts can be avoided.
Setoff Debt Collection Act
Under the provisions of this act, an individual's Virginia income tax refund or lottery winnings will be subject to the university's claim for any unpaid balance of tuition and fees. Any communication disputing an amount owed must be submitted in writing to the Director of the University Business Office.
Eligibility for In-State Tuition
Eligibility for in-state tuition charges is based on the provisions of Section 23.1-500 of the Code of Virginia in effect on the first day of classes for each term. A link to the Code of Virginia guidelines can be found on the University Business Office website. This statute limits in-state tuition to those with Virginia domiciliary status. Domicile is defined as the "present, fixed home to which you return following temporary absences and at which you intend to stay indefinitely." If there is any question of the right to classification as a domicile of Virginia, it is the student's obligation, prior to the first day of classes for the semester, to raise the question with JMU administrative officials. Students who exceed the minimum number of credit hours required for graduation by 25 percent should refer to the UBO website for additional tuition charges.
Dependent Students
To qualify for in-state tuition, a dependent student or an un-emancipated minor shall establish by clear and convincing evidence that, for a period of at least one year prior to the date of the alleged entitlement, the person through whom they claim eligibility was domiciled in Virginia and had abandoned any previous domicile, if another existed. A link to the Code of Virginia, as well as Residency Guidelines, can be found on the University Business Office website under the section "Residency Requirements." Certain exceptions apply to Active Duty Military and veteran dependents.
Independent Students
The statute defines an independent student as one whose parents have surrendered the right to his/her care, custody and earnings; have ceased to support him/her and have not claimed him/her as a dependent on federal and state income tax returns for at least 12 months prior to the alleged eligibility. Certain exceptions apply to Active Duty Military and veteran students.
To qualify for in-state tuition, an independent student shall establish by clear and convincing evidence that for a period of at least one year immediately prior to the date of the alleged entitlement, they were domiciled in Virginia and had abandoned any previous domicile, if such existed.
Domiciliary status shall not ordinarily be conferred by the performance of acts which are auxiliary to fulfilling educational objectives or are required or routinely performed by temporary residents of the commonwealth. Mere physical presence or residence primarily for educational purposes shall not confer domiciliary status. A matriculating student who has entered an institution and is classified as an out-of-state student shall be required to rebut by clear and convincing evidence the presumption that they are in the commonwealth for the purpose of attending school and not as a bona fide domiciliary.
In-state Tuition Application
Initial determinations of eligibility are made by the Office of Admissions (incoming first year students and transfers), The Graduate School (graduate students) and the School of Professional and Continuing Education (for continuing education and non-degree students). Decisions on re-entry students are also made by these respective offices. Reclassification decisions on currently enrolled degree-seeking students are made by the Director of the University Business Office.
To establish eligibility after entering JMU as an out-of-state student, an applicant must complete the reclassification form posted on the University Business Office website. For information on special provisions of Section 23.1-500, contact the Office of Admissions, The Graduate School, Professional and Continuing Education or the University Business Office.
Once a student receives an initial determination of eligibility, they may appeal for a review of the application by contacting the office which made the decision within 30 days. Appeal for a final administrative review of the decision to deny in-state tuition may be made to the university's Residency Appeals Committee. If there is any question of the right to classification as a domicile of Virginia, it is the student's obligation prior to or at the time of registration to raise the question with the administrative officials of James Madison University. Any party aggrieved by a final administrative decision shall have the right to petition within 30 days for a review by the Circuit Court of Rockingham County.
Returning students may apply for reclassification from out-of-state to in-state status through the University Business Office. The Reclassification Application Form can be obtained at the UBO website under "Residency." Denial of a request for such reclassification may be appealed within 30 days to the Associate Vice President for Finance with a final appeal within 30 days to the Residency Appeals Committee. Petition for review of this final appeal must be made within 30 days to the Circuit Court of Rockingham County.
A change to in-state status may be made only when the completed application for reclassification form is received by the University Business Office prior to the first day of classes for that semester. Students are responsible for paying out-of-state tuition rates until in-state status has been approved. Refer to the University Business Office website and specifically the section "Residency" for the reclassification form and links to the Code of Virginia.
Housing and Meal Plans
Part-time students cannot purchase a housing contract without prior approval of the Office of Residence Life. Students residing in university housing are required to have a Meal Plan with their housing contract.
Students residing in off-campus housing have a variety of meal plan options available through the JMU Dining website or by visiting Dining HQ, located on the first floor of D-Hall. All meal plans are billed directly to student accounts as year-long contracts, with charges applied each semester.
Refunds
An overpayment of a student account from personal funds can be either refunded or posted to a future semester as a payment. An overpayment created by a credit card payment must be refunded back to the credit card. Financial Aid refunds are processed automatically in accordance with applicable Title IV regulations. All overpayments are refunded to the student except for Parent PLUS loans, which are refunded as specified by the parent in the PLUS application. All student refunds are processed through the university’s refund vendor. A refund preference must be selected by using the "My Refunds" link in MyMadison. Questions concerning refund procedures can be directed to the University Business Office .
Parents who are eligible to receive a refund on their federal Parent PLUS loan will receive a paper check at the home address of record.
Withdrawal Refunds
Students who officially withdraw from the university by the semester deadline will be refunded all tuition and mandatory fees pursuant to the offical refund schedule.
Withdrawing after the end of this period will not reduce tuition charges. Meal plan fees will be prorated from the dining hall opening date. After the deadline dates, refunds will be for only a pro rata share of the meal plan fee. Room refunds will be made in accordance with the Residence Life refund schedule as stated in the current Residential Contract.
For further information on withdrawal from the university, see the section Withdrawal from the University or this link.
Room and Tuition Deposits
New Students
For new students, a deposit is required to confirm their acceptance of the offer of admission. When a student pays the deposit, the money is applied to the student's account. The deadline for this deposit is May 1. Refunds after the stated deadlines will be made only for personal illness certified by a physician or other extenuating circumstances approved by the Director of Admissions.
Returning Students
For returning students who want to live in university residential facilities, a signed Residential Contract must be submitted online to the Office of Residence Life. A contract fee will be assessed when the contract is submitted.