Clemson vs. JMU

Should I go to Clemson University or James Madison University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Clemson 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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Clemson University vs. James Madison University comparison
Clemson University James Madison University College 3 College 4
Clemson University James Madison University
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Overview

Clemson JMU
Location Clemson, SC Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 28,466 22,224
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #133 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clemson.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clemson JMU
Tuition (In State) $14,118 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $38,062 $24,744
Room & Board $12,350 $12,040
Avg Net Price $24,577 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $10,430 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 79% 33%

Admission

Clemson JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 52,819 30,727
Admitted 22,704 24,062
Acceptance Rate 43% 78.3%
Enrolled % 20.2% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.57
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 28/32 23/29
SAT Range 1220/1410 1140/1320
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 May 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

Clemson JMU
% Men 48% 42%
% Women 52% 58%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 76%
% Black 7% 4%
% Hispanic 3% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Clemson JMU
% In-State 52% 73%
% Out-of-State 46% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Clemson University is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (28,466 students vs. 22,224 students)

Clemson vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clemson or JMU?

  • Clemson University is 83.7% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($14,118.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 53.8% higher at Clemson than James Madison University ($38,062.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Clemson ($18,274 vs. $24,577)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 2.6% lower than costs at Clemson University ($12,040 vs. $12,350)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clemson University than James Madison University (79% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clemson University students is 3.5% larger than aid received James Madison University ($10,430 vs. $10,081)

Clemson vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Clemson University (1275) is 141 points higher than at JMU (1134)
  • Incoming Clemson students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at JMU (25)
  • 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 (78.3%) than Clemson (43%)

Clemson vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clemson 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 Clemson.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Clemson University (81% vs. 80%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $3,200 more per year than Clemson graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $57,100)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $601 lower median federal student loan debt than Clemson graduates. ($20,899 vs. $21,500)
  • JMU graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans 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/