Clemson vs. JMU

Deciding between Clemson 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.

Clemson University
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Clemson Clemson, SC
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Clemson Distant Town
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Clemson 29,077
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Clemson Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Clemson #132
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Clemson -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Clemson Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Clemson
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Clemson $15,554
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Clemson $40,866
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Clemson $13,284
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Clemson $25,003
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Clemson $11,389
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Clemson 75%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Clemson 61,517
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Clemson 23,586
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Clemson 38.3%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Clemson 20.7%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clemson 1330
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clemson 30
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Clemson 3.75
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Clemson A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Clemson Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Clemson High
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Clemson 28/32
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Clemson 1240/1410
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Clemson Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Clemson May 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Clemson 16:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Clemson
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Clemson 80%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Clemson $57,100
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Clemson 78%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Clemson $21,500
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Clemson $222
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Clemson 46%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Clemson 54%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Clemson Very Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Clemson No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Clemson 83%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Clemson 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Clemson 7%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Clemson 3%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Clemson 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Clemson 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Clemson 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Clemson 1%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Clemson 1%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Clemson 56%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Clemson 43%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Clemson University in Clemson, SC with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Clemson University is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (29,077 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Clemson vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clemson 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 Clemson ($18,856 vs. $25,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 1.7% lower than at Clemson University ($13,056 vs. $13,284).
  • Clemson University is 9.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $1,304 more per year; $15,554.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 29.3% higher at Clemson than at James Madison University (about $9,262 more per year; $40,866.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clemson University than at James Madison University (75% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 6.4% larger than aid received by Clemson University students ($12,114 vs. $11,389).

Clemson vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clemson 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 Clemson.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Clemson University (1330) is 70 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Clemson students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clemson University 1240/1410; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clemson University 28/32; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clemson - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clemson May 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Clemson students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Clemson (38.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.7% at Clemson vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Clemson vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clemson 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 Clemson University's (80%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than Clemson graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $57,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $601 lower median loan debt than Clemson graduates ($20,899 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clemson graduates ($216 vs. $222).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clemson students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 78%)

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.