Hunter vs. JMU

Deciding between CUNY Hunter College 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.

CUNY Hunter College
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Hunter Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Hunter 22,538
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Hunter #297
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Hunter -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Hunter
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Hunter $7,382
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Hunter $15,332
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Hunter $11,832
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Hunter $4,431
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Hunter $9,755
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Hunter 87%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Hunter 32,271
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Hunter 17,362
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Hunter 1260
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Hunter
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Hunter 3.7
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Hunter A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Hunter Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Hunter Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Hunter
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Hunter Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Hunter
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Hunter 14:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Hunter 46%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Hunter $48,800
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Hunter 56%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Hunter $11,548
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Hunter $119
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Hunter 33%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Hunter 67%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Hunter Very High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Hunter No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Hunter 27%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Hunter 26%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Hunter 10%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Hunter 29%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Hunter 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Hunter 1%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Hunter 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Hunter 6%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Hunter 0%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Hunter 82%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Hunter 0%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY Hunter College in New York, NY 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 Hunter based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 22,538 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY Hunter College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY Hunter College 14:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Hunter vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hunter 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 CUNY Hunter College than JMU ($4,431 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 9.4% lower than at James Madison University ($11,832 vs. $13,056).
  • James Madison University is 93% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $6,868 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 106.1% higher at JMU than at CUNY Hunter College (about $16,272 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at James Madison University (87% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 24.2% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($12,114 vs. $9,755).

Hunter vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hunter 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 Hunter.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at CUNY Hunter College (1260) is the same as at JMU (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsJames Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hunter - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Hunter students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Hunter (53.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Hunter vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Hunter vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hunter 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 CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $11,500 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $9,351 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($11,548 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $97 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($119 vs. $216).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 56%)

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.