ASU vs. JMU

Deciding between Appalachian State University and James Madison University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Appalachian State University
James Madison University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ASU Boone, NC
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • ASU Distant Town
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ASU 21,570
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ASU #599
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ASU -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • ASU Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ASU
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ASU $7,579
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ASU $25,212
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • ASU $12,868
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • ASU $14,978
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ASU $8,014
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ASU 46%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ASU 24,614
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • ASU 22,188
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ASU 90.1%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • ASU 18.2%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ASU 1200
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • ASU 24
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • ASU 3.96
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ASU A
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ASU Average
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • ASU
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • ASU 21/27
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • ASU 1120/1280
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ASU Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ASU Feb 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ASU 16:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ASU 65%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ASU $41,600
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ASU 74%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ASU $20,500
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ASU $211
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ASU 43%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • ASU 57%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ASU Very Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • ASU No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • ASU 85%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • ASU 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • ASU 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • ASU 4%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • ASU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ASU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ASU 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • ASU 1%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ASU 2%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ASU 86%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ASU 14%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ASU Yes
  • JMU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ASU No
  • JMU No
  • Meal Plan
  • ASU Yes
  • JMU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ASU No
  • JMU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ASU Yes
  • JMU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Appalachian State University in Boone, NC with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

James Madison University is larger than ASU based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 21,570 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Appalachian State University is located in Boone, NC (Distant Town setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Appalachian State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Appalachian State University 16:1; James Madison University 17:1.

ASU vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or JMU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than JMU ($14,978 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Appalachian State University are 1.4% lower than at James Madison University ($12,868 vs. $13,056).
  • James Madison University is 88% more expensive for in-state tuition than ASU (about $6,671 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $7,579.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 25.4% higher at JMU than at Appalachian State University (about $6,392 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $25,212.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Appalachian State University than at James Madison University (46% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 51.2% larger than aid received by Appalachian State University students ($12,114 vs. $8,014).

ASU vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or JMU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between JMU and ASU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 60 points higher than at ASU (1200).
  • Incoming JMU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at ASU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Appalachian State University 1120/1280; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Appalachian State University 21/27; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASU - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ASU Feb 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (90.1%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at ASU vs. 18.2% at JMU.

ASU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASU and JMU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • James Madison University's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Appalachian State University's (65%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $18,700 more per year than ASU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Appalachian State University graduates have a $399 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($20,500 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, ASU graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($211 vs. $216).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 74%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.