William & Mary vs. JMU
Deciding between William & Mary 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.
William & Mary
James Madison University
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Overview
- William & Mary
- JMU
- Location
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William & Mary Williamsburg, VA
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JMU Harrisonburg, VA
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- Setting
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William & Mary Large Suburban
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JMU Small City
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- Total enrollment
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William & Mary 9,818
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JMU 22,740
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- Type
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William & Mary Public 4 Year
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JMU Public 4 Year
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- National Ranking
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William & Mary #63
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JMU #246
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- Religious Affiliation
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William & Mary -
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JMU -
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- Status
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William & Mary Non-profit
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JMU Non-profit
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- Team Colors
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William & Mary
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JMU
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Cost
- William & Mary
- JMU
- Tuition (In State)
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William & Mary $25,914
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JMU $14,250
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- Tuition (Out of State)
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William & Mary $51,038
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JMU $31,604
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- Room & Board
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William & Mary $16,182
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JMU $13,056
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- Average Net Price
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William & Mary $19,686
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JMU $18,856
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- Average Grant Aid
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William & Mary $23,144
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JMU $12,114
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- % Receiving Grant Aid
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William & Mary 43%
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JMU 33%
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Admissions
- William & Mary
- JMU
- Applied
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William & Mary 17,798
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JMU 38,428
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- Admitted
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William & Mary 6,064
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JMU 27,482
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- Acceptance Rate
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William & Mary 34.1%
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JMU 71.5%
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- Enrolled
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William & Mary 26.6%
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JMU 18.2%
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- Typical SAT score
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William & Mary 1470
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JMU 1260
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- Typical ACT score
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William & Mary 33
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JMU 26
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- Average High School GPA
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William & Mary 3.85
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JMU 3.57
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- Typical High School Grades
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William & Mary A
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JMU A-
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- Admissions Standards
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William & Mary Exceptional
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JMU Difficult
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- Applicant Competition
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William & Mary High
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JMU Low
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- ACT Range
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William & Mary 32/34
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JMU 24/29
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- SAT Range
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William & Mary 1400/1530
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JMU 1170/1340
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- Submit Test Scores
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William & Mary Test optional
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JMU Test optional
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- Application Deadline
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William & Mary Jan 2, 2027
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JMU Jan 15, 2027
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Academics
- William & Mary
- JMU
- Student to Faculty Ratio
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William & Mary 12:1
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JMU 17:1
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- Popular Majors
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William & Mary
- Social Sciences (24%)
- Business (11%)
- General Studies (10%)
- English and Literature (8%)
- History (7%)
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JMU
- Business (16%)
- Health Professions (13%)
- Social Sciences (10%)
- Communication (10%)
- Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
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Outcomes
- William & Mary
- JMU
- Graduation Rate
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William & Mary 91%
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JMU 81%
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- Median Earnings (After 10 years)
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William & Mary $68,700
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JMU $60,300
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- Making Student Loan Payments
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William & Mary 85%
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JMU 83%
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- Median Student Loan Debt
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William & Mary $19,500
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JMU $20,899
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- Median Loan Payment
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William & Mary $201
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JMU $216
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Diversity
- William & Mary
- JMU
- % Men
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William & Mary 41%
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JMU 43%
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- % Women
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William & Mary 59%
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JMU 57%
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- Racial Diversity
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William & Mary High
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JMU Low
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- HBCU
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William & Mary No
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JMU No
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- % White
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William & Mary 59%
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JMU 76%
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- % Asian
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William & Mary 8%
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JMU 4%
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- % Black
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William & Mary 7%
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JMU 4%
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- % Hispanic
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William & Mary 9%
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JMU 6%
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- % Native American
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William & Mary 0%
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JMU 0%
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- % Pacific Islander
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William & Mary 0%
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JMU 0%
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- % Two or More Races
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William & Mary 4%
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JMU 4%
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- % International
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William & Mary 6%
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JMU 2%
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- % Unknown Race
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William & Mary 6%
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JMU 3%
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Students
- William & Mary
- JMU
- % In-State
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William & Mary 59%
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JMU 69%
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- % Out-of-State
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William & Mary 37%
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JMU 30%
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Comparable Facts
Compare William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA 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 William & Mary based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 9,818 students)
Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio
- William & Mary is located in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
- William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: William & Mary 12:1; James Madison University 17:1.
William & Mary vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, William & Mary 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 William & Mary ($18,856 vs. $19,686).
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 19.3% lower than at William & Mary ($13,056 vs. $16,182).
- William & Mary is 81.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $11,664 more per year; $25,914.00 vs. $14,250.00).
- Out-of-state tuition is 61.5% higher at William & Mary than at James Madison University (about $19,434 more per year; $51,038.00 vs. $31,604.00).
- A larger share of students receive grant aid at William & Mary than at James Madison University (43% vs. 33%).
- The average total grant financial aid received by William & Mary students is 91.1% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($23,144 vs. $12,114).
William & Mary vs. JMU Admissions comparison
Which college is harder to get into, William & Mary 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 William & Mary.
- The typical SAT score (median estimate) at William & Mary (1470) is 210 points higher than at JMU (1260).
- Incoming William & Mary students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 26 at JMU).
- Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: William & Mary 1400/1530; James Madison University 1170/1340.
- Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: William & Mary 32/34; James Madison University 24/29.
- Submitting SAT or ACT scores: William & Mary - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
- Typical fall application deadline: William & Mary Jan 2, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
- 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 (71.5%) than William & Mary (34.1%).
- The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.6% at William & Mary vs. 18.2% at JMU.
William & Mary vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
How do outcomes compare for William & Mary 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).
- William & Mary's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than James Madison University's (81%).
- Graduates from William & Mary earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,700 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
- Among federal student loan borrowers, William & Mary graduates have a $1,399 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($19,500 vs. $20,899).
- Among borrowers, William & Mary graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.