Key differences on Cost & aid
- 1
U. Alabama's grants cover 30% of its full price on average, vs. 11% at James Madison
Aid generosity - 2
U. Alabama costs about $392 less per year on average than James Madison ($32,385 vs. $32,777, all students)
Average cost, all students
Cost & aid
Cost & aid
Average cost, aid generosity, net price by family income, sticker prices, and grants.
What students pay
Grants
Sticker prices
On one scale, so the bars read against each other.
Up to $110K: the average net price per year for students receiving federal aid, 2023–24; families who didn't file the FAFSA aren't included. Above it the published data end. For your own number, use the college's net price calculator .
Family income per year $150K
- James MadisonLittle need-based aid above $110K
- U. AlabamaLittle need-based aid above $110K
Published (federal figure, up to $110K) EstimateBars share one scale: the largest full price.
Where need-based aid ends, merit, and published promises
| Metric | James Madison | U. Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Need-based aid up to | Little need-based aid above $110K | Little need-based aid above $110K |
| Merit for students without need | – | – |
| Published promise | – | – |
A college's own promise is stated for a typical family and changes yearly; where a promise and our estimate disagree, the promise wins. Merit has no income limit, so it can lower the price above the point where need-based aid ends.
Tuition guarantee & Promise program
| Metric | James Madison | U. Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition guarantee | No | No |
| Promise program | No | Yes |
From the colleges' Common Data Sets
| Metric | James Madison | U. Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Aid forms | FAFSA | – |
| Aid priority date or deadline | March 1 (priority) | – |
| Need met, first-years | 35% | 63% |
| Average aid package, first-years | $12,082 | $19,857 |
| College grant dollars given as merit | – | 71% |
| Aid for international students | 85 students, average $20.8K | 213 students, average $33.9K |
Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;James Madison University Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2024 entrants;James Madison University Common Data Set 2023–24, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;Common Data Set, most recent release;The University of Alabama Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;The University of Alabama Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26 (estimated);The University of Alabama (2026–27), 2026–27About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why