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Mason UVA Virginia Tech VCU University of Richmond CNU Washington and Lee Old Dominion Mary Washington College UD Elon ASU| College of William and Mary | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
William & Mary | JMU | ||
| Location | Williamsburg, VA | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,762 | 22,758 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #69 | #259 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wm.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
William & Mary | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $18,252 | $7,914 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $42,053 | $25,128 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,555 | $12,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,422 | $26,317 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,908 | $4,456 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 40% | 81% |
Admission |
William & Mary | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,548 | 35,750 | ||
| Admitted | 5,741 | 27,258 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 32.7% | 76.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.2% | 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 | 32/34 | 25/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1365/1510 | 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 2, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
William & Mary | JMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
William & Mary | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 91% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $68,700 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,500 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $201 | $216 |
Diversity |
William & Mary | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 17% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 6% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 6% | 3% |
Students |
William & Mary | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 60% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 35% | 26% | ||
Campus |
William & Mary | JMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- James Madison University is larger than than William & Mary based on total student enrollment (22,758 students vs. 9,762 students)
William & Mary vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, William & Mary or JMU?
- College of William and Mary is 130.6% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($18,252.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 67.4% higher at William & Mary than James Madison University ($42,053.00 vs. $25,128.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of William and Mary than JMU ($20,422 vs. $26,317)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 15.7% lower than costs at College of William and Mary ($12,584 vs. $14,555)
- More students receive financial grant aid at James Madison University than College of William and Mary (81% vs. 40%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by College of William and Mary students is 369.2% larger than aid received James Madison University ($20,908 vs. $4,456)
William & Mary vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, William & Mary or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or William & Mary .
- The average SAT score at College of William and Mary (1353) is 219 points higher than at JMU (1134)
- Incoming William & Mary students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at JMU (25)
- Accepted freshman William & Mary 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 William & Mary (32.7%)
William & Mary vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, William & Mary 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 William & Mary.
- The graduation rate at William & Mary is higher than James Madison University (91% vs. 81%)
- Graduates from College of William and Mary earn on average $8,400 more per year than JMU graduates after ten years. ($68,700 vs. $60,300)
- College of William and Mary students graduate with a $1,399 lower median federal student loan debt than JMU graduates. ($19,500 vs. $20,899)
- William & Mary graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than JMU graduates. ($201 vs. $216)
- More William & Mary graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former JMU students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 83%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/