Bryn Mawr vs. JMU

Should I go to Bryn Mawr College or James Madison University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bryn Mawr or JMU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Bryn Mawr College vs. James Madison University comparison
Bryn Mawr College James Madison University College 3 College 4
Bryn Mawr College James Madison University
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Overview

 Bryn Mawr JMU
Location Bryn Mawr, PA Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 1,666 22,758
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #83 #259
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website brynmawr.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Bryn Mawr JMU
Tuition (In State) $61,190 $7,914
Tuition (Out of State) $61,190 $25,128
Room & Board $18,690 $12,584
Avg Net Price $39,383 $26,317
Avg Grant Aid $39,997 $4,456
% Receiving Grant Aid 73% 81%

Admission

 Bryn Mawr JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,278 35,750
Admitted 1,018 27,258
Acceptance Rate 31.1% 76.2%
Enrolled % 35.5% 18.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.85 3.57
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 30/33 25/29
SAT Range 1300/1470 1170/1320
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 Bryn Mawr JMU
% Men 4% 2%
% Women 15% 5%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 36% 76%
% Black 6% 4%
% Hispanic 9% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 23% 2%
% Unknown Race 8% 3%

Students

 Bryn Mawr JMU
% In-State 9% 73%
% Out-of-State 73% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • James Madison University is larger than than Bryn Mawr based on total student enrollment (22,758 students vs. 1,666 students)

Bryn Mawr vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bryn Mawr or JMU?

  • Bryn Mawr College is 673.2% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($61,190.00 vs. $7,914.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 143.5% higher at Bryn Mawr than James Madison University ($61,190.00 vs. $25,128.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Bryn Mawr ($26,317 vs. $39,383)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 48.5% lower than costs at Bryn Mawr College ($12,584 vs. $18,690)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at James Madison University than Bryn Mawr College (81% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bryn Mawr College students is 797.6% larger than aid received James Madison University ($39,997 vs. $4,456)

Bryn Mawr vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bryn Mawr or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or Bryn Mawr .

  • The average SAT score at Bryn Mawr College (1346) is 212 points higher than at JMU (1134)
  • Incoming Bryn Mawr students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at JMU (25)
  • 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 (76.2%) than Bryn Mawr (31.1%)

Bryn Mawr vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bryn Mawr or JMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between JMU and Bryn Mawr.

  • The graduation rate at Bryn Mawr is higher than James Madison University (87% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from Bryn Mawr College earn on average $1,200 more per year than JMU graduates after ten years. ($61,500 vs. $60,300)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $5,101 lower median federal student loan debt than Bryn Mawr graduates. ($20,899 vs. $26,000)
  • JMU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans 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/