Canisius vs. JMU

Deciding between Canisius 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.

Canisius University
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Canisius Buffalo, NY
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Canisius Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Canisius 2,451
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Canisius Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Canisius #393
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Canisius Roman Catholic
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Canisius Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Canisius
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Canisius $34,500
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Canisius $34,500
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Canisius $13,560
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Canisius $19,666
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Canisius $24,972
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Canisius 100%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Canisius 4,175
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Canisius 3,021
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Canisius 72.4%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Canisius 13.1%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Canisius 1190
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Canisius 25
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Canisius 3.7
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Canisius A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Canisius Challenging
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Canisius Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Canisius 22/28
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Canisius 1050/1320
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Canisius Test-free
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Canisius
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Canisius 11:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Canisius
    • Business (25%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (9%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Canisius 67%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Canisius $49,900
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Canisius 71%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Canisius $24,750
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Canisius $255
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Canisius 48%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Canisius 52%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Canisius Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Canisius No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Canisius 73%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Canisius 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Canisius 8%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Canisius 6%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Canisius 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Canisius 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Canisius 1%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Canisius 4%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Canisius 4%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Canisius 77%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Canisius 15%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Canisius University in Buffalo, NY 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 Canisius based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 2,451 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Canisius University is located in Buffalo, NY (Large City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Canisius University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Canisius University 11:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Canisius vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Canisius 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 Canisius ($18,856 vs. $19,666).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 3.7% lower than at Canisius University ($13,056 vs. $13,560).
  • Canisius University is 142.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $20,250 more per year; $34,500.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.2% higher at Canisius than at James Madison University (about $2,896 more per year; $34,500.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Canisius University than at James Madison University (100% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Canisius University students is 106.1% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($24,972 vs. $12,114).

Canisius vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Canisius 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 Canisius.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 70 points higher than at Canisius (1190).
  • Incoming JMU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Canisius).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Canisius University 1050/1320; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Canisius University 22/28; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Canisius - Test-free; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Canisius students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • Canisius has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.1% at Canisius vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Canisius vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Canisius 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 Canisius University's (67%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $10,400 more per year than Canisius graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $49,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $3,851 lower median loan debt than Canisius graduates ($20,899 vs. $24,750).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Canisius graduates ($216 vs. $255).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Canisius students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 71%)

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.