Bryn Mawr vs. JMU

Deciding between Bryn Mawr College 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.

Bryn Mawr College
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bryn Mawr Bryn Mawr, PA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Bryn Mawr Large Suburban
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bryn Mawr 1,679
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Bryn Mawr Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bryn Mawr #83
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bryn Mawr -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Bryn Mawr Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bryn Mawr
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bryn Mawr $65,920
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bryn Mawr $65,920
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Bryn Mawr $19,400
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Bryn Mawr $33,221
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bryn Mawr $50,029
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bryn Mawr 72%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bryn Mawr 4,094
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Bryn Mawr 1,205
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bryn Mawr 29.4%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Bryn Mawr 31.5%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bryn Mawr 1400
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bryn Mawr 31
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bryn Mawr 3.85
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bryn Mawr A
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bryn Mawr Exceptional
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bryn Mawr High
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Bryn Mawr 29/33
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Bryn Mawr 1280/1510
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bryn Mawr Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bryn Mawr Jan 15, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bryn Mawr 8:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bryn Mawr
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Foreign Languages (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bryn Mawr 87%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bryn Mawr $61,500
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bryn Mawr 79%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bryn Mawr $26,000
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bryn Mawr $268
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bryn Mawr 4%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Bryn Mawr 96%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bryn Mawr Very High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Bryn Mawr No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Bryn Mawr 36%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Bryn Mawr 12%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Bryn Mawr 6%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bryn Mawr 9%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Bryn Mawr 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bryn Mawr 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bryn Mawr 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Bryn Mawr 23%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bryn Mawr 8%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bryn Mawr 10%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bryn Mawr 76%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, PA 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 Bryn Mawr based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 1,679 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bryn Mawr College is located in Bryn Mawr, PA (Large Suburban setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Bryn Mawr College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bryn Mawr College 8:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Bryn Mawr vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bryn Mawr 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 James Madison University than Bryn Mawr ($18,856 vs. $33,221).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 32.7% lower than at Bryn Mawr College ($13,056 vs. $19,400).
  • Bryn Mawr College is 362.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $51,670 more per year; $65,920.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 108.6% higher at Bryn Mawr than at James Madison University (about $34,316 more per year; $65,920.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bryn Mawr College than at James Madison University (72% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bryn Mawr College students is 313% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($50,029 vs. $12,114).

Bryn Mawr vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bryn Mawr 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 Bryn Mawr.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bryn Mawr College (1400) is 140 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Bryn Mawr students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bryn Mawr College 1280/1510; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bryn Mawr College 29/33; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bryn Mawr - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bryn Mawr Jan 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Bryn Mawr students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Bryn Mawr (29.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Bryn Mawr vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Bryn Mawr vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bryn Mawr 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).

  • Bryn Mawr College's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than James Madison University's (81%).
  • Graduates from Bryn Mawr College earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,500 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $5,101 lower median loan debt than Bryn Mawr graduates ($20,899 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bryn Mawr graduates ($216 vs. $268).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bryn Mawr students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 79%)

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.