JMU Housing Costs

$4,560 Other Living Expenses Typical Cost

What Are the Living Expenses at JMU?

There are additional costs associated with college other than tuition. Find out below exactly how much you will be spending to attend James Madison University.

On this page you will find:

Living Expenses Outline
Room & Board Trends and Total Expenses
Meal Plans and Housing Requirements
References

Room and Board Expenses at JMU

This school prices housing and dining separately. The on-campus housing cost for a typical student was $6,280 in 2026, and a standard meal plan cost $6,636. All in all, the average on-campus student at James Madison University faced a yearly bill of about $23,586 in 2026 after factoring in housing, meals, books and other essentials.

The table below shows the expected costs of on-campus and off-campus housing and dining plans for James Madison University.

Expense	On Campus	Off Campus
Room and Board	$17,728	$17,728
— Housing	$6,280
— Meals	$6,636
Other Living Expenses	$4,560	$4,560
Books and Supplies	$1,298	$1,298
Total	$23,586	$23,586

Room & Board Trends and Total Expenses? Forecasted Cost is $103,004

Room and board is a moving target: it tends to creep up every year you are enrolled. Projecting the trend helps you plan for all four years instead of only the first.

Over four years you could pay about $103,004 by the time you graduate.

Below is how room and board has changed across recent reported years — and where current trends point — at James Madison University.

Year	Room & Board
Three Years Ago	$15,552
Two Years Ago	$16,240
One Year Ago	$17,144
Most Recent Year (2026)	$17,728
One Year From Now *	$18,554
Two Years From Now *	$19,420
Three Years From Now *	$20,325
Four Years From Now *	$21,273

* estimated

Over the reported period, on-campus housing and dining changed about 4.7% annually. At the same pace next year, the total would be roughly $24,412 for their first year on campus.

At this pace, a senior would spend approximately $27,131 for a four-year (bachelor’s) degree, and about $25,278 for the last year of an associate degree.

Across all four years, on-campus living costs would total approximately $103,004 for a four-year degree, versus about $49,690 for two years on campus.