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Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services at James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
44
Optimistic
43
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings $24,860/yr (-21% vs median)
AI Risk High (45% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (306,000 openings/yr)
ROI 11.7x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #24 of 38 Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $652K $638K $574K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.0x 11.7x 10.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.3x 5.2x 4.7x
Probability of Field Employment 52% 47% 36%
DegreeOutlook Score 44 43 43

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$54,304
Out-of-state: $123,160 (5.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$87,264
-61% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,375
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,500
139% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $24,860 per year, Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services graduates from James Madison University earn below the $31,506 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 11.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 45% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $16,375 debt-to-$24,860 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #24 out of 38 programs, James Madison University's financial outcomes for Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $24,860 to $59,500 over five years (139% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About James Madison University

With 76% of applicants admitted, James Madison University prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 20,497 students in Harrisonburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at James Madison University →

Top Career Paths

Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary $77,280/yr
Dietitians and nutritionists $73,850/yr
Food service managers $65,310/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 38 schools offering Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services →

Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services at Other Schools

Texas Woman's University ($46,399) Framingham State University ($41,932) University of Missouri-Columbia ($40,837) University of Delaware ($39,066) The University of Alabama ($37,836) Texas State University ($36,601) The University of Texas at Austin ($36,312) Montclair State University ($35,808)

Other Majors at James Madison University

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($81,761) Information Science/Studies ($80,173) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($76,490) Accounting and Related Services ($71,563) Engineering, General ($71,176) Finance and Financial Management Services ($67,849) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($65,931) Systems Science and Theory ($65,683)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does James Madison University's Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services program score?
This program scores 43/100 — on the lower end for Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 45% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services earnings lower at James Madison University?
Lower starting pay at James Madison University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →