JCU has an average tuition rate of 30,000 AUD. Aside from that, students must be prepared to pay a living cost of $5,304 AUD in Australia.

JCU University provides on-campus housing in Townsville and Cairns for domestic and international students studying in Australia. The campuses offer international students a safe and secure environment as well as a variety of living options. Accommodation is offered at JCU Townsville in George Roberts Hall, Rotary International House, University Hall, Saint Catholic College, and The John Flynn College. On-campus accommodation costs between $251 to $441 per night. A single student should expect to pay between 480 and 1760 dollars per month for off-campus living.

The university has a total of 11882 students enrolled. It has 11,500 students, 1,500 of whom are international. JCU has a 79 percent acceptance rate.

In Australia, James Cook University has campuses in Cairns, Townsville, and Brisbane. It also has a fourth campus in Singapore, an international city. JCU Townsville's Bebegu Yumba campus is located in the Townsville Tropical Intelligence and Health Precinct (TropiQ), in the Douglas area. It is placed in a 386-hectare natural bush and parkland setting 13 kilometres from Townsville's CBD. JCU Student Association and JCU International Student Association organise a variety of social, athletic, and academic clubs and societies. Cairns Campuses provide teaching and research facilities, a library, sporting facilities, a gym, cafes, bars, clubs, and societies. The JCU Cairns City Campus also has study areas. JCU Cairns Smithfield Campus offers a world-class mountain bike track in addition to the typical sporting amenities.

JCU is authorised to self-accredit each course of study that leads to a higher education certification that it provides or confers under the Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA) Act 2011.

JCU's Career and Employability department assists students with career preparation and offers a number of employment possibilities, including MBA positions in Australia. Students can use CareerHub to look for full-time and part-time jobs, as well as internships. It also informs visitors about upcoming career events, workshops, and employers. Through volunteer programs, students can gain work experience and improve their employability. Participation in volunteering can increase a student's chances of getting hired during on-campus recruitment. Employees who graduate from James Cook University earn an average of ₹17lakhs.