Denison vs. JMU

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

Denison JMU
Location Granville, OH Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Rural Fringe Small City
Enrollment 2,416 22,224
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #98 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website denison.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Denison JMU
Tuition (In State) $60,000 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $60,000 $24,744
Room & Board $14,400 $12,040
Avg Net Price $38,267 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $36,497 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 33%

Admission

Denison JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,220 30,727
Admitted 2,684 24,062
Acceptance Rate 22% 78.3%
Enrolled % 25.4% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.76 3.57
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 29/32 23/29
SAT Range 1270/1460 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 Jan 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Denison JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

Denison JMU
Graduation Rate 79% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,100 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 83% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $268 $216

Diversity

Denison JMU
% Men 48% 42%
% Women 52% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 66% 76%
% Black 7% 4%
% Hispanic 10% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 8% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

Denison JMU
% In-State 21% 73%
% Out-of-State 65% 26%

Campus

Denison 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

  • James Madison University is larger than than Denison based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 2,416 students)

Denison vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Denison or JMU?

  • Denison University is 680.8% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($60,000.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 142.5% higher at Denison than James Madison University ($60,000.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Denison ($18,274 vs. $38,267)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 19.6% lower than costs at Denison University ($12,040 vs. $14,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Denison University than James Madison University (97% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 262% larger than aid received James Madison University ($36,497 vs. $10,081)

Denison vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Denison students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at JMU (3.57)
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than Denison (22%)

Denison vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Denison 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 Denison.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Denison University (81% vs. 79%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $4,200 more per year than Denison graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $56,100)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $5,101 lower median federal student loan debt than Denison graduates. ($20,899 vs. $26,000)
  • JMU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Denison graduates. ($216 vs. $268)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Denison students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 83%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/