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CU Boulder Mason Virginia Tech VCU CU Denver UVA CNU MSU Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD| Colorado State University Fort Collins | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Colorado State | JMU | ||
| Location | Fort Collins, CO | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 33,500 | 22,758 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #357 | #259 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colostate.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Colorado State | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,186 | $7,914 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $31,041 | $25,128 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,606 | $12,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,828 | $26,317 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,554 | $4,456 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 71% | 81% |
Admission |
Colorado State | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 36,612 | 35,750 | ||
| Admitted | 32,801 | 27,258 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89.6% | 76.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.1% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.68 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/29 | 25/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1080/1290 | 1170/1320 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Colorado State | JMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Colorado State | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 64% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $51,800 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,004 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $217 | $216 |
Diversity |
Colorado State | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 13% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 3% |
Students |
Colorado State | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 65% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 34% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Colorado State | 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
- Colorado State University Fort Collins is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (33,500 students vs. 22,758 students)
Colorado State vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Colorado State or JMU?
- Colorado State University Fort Collins is 28.7% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($10,186.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 23.5% higher at Colorado State than James Madison University ($31,041.00 vs. $25,128.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colorado State University Fort Collins than JMU ($19,828 vs. $26,317)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 24% lower than costs at Colorado State University Fort Collins ($12,584 vs. $15,606)
- More students receive financial grant aid at James Madison University than Colorado State University Fort Collins (81% vs. 71%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado State University Fort Collins students is 136.8% larger than aid received James Madison University ($10,554 vs. $4,456)
Colorado State vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Colorado State or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or Colorado State .
- The average SAT score at Colorado State University Fort Collins (1145) is 11 points higher than at JMU (1134)
- Incoming Colorado State students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at JMU (25)
- Accepted freshman Colorado State students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at JMU (3.57)
- Colorado State has a higher acceptance rate (89.6%) than JMU (76.2%)
Colorado State vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Colorado State 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 Colorado State.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Colorado State University Fort Collins (81% vs. 64%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $8,500 more per year than Colorado State graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $51,800)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $105 lower median federal student loan debt than Colorado State graduates. ($20,899 vs. $21,004)
- JMU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than Colorado State graduates. ($216 vs. $217)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colorado State students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/