Denison vs. JMU

Deciding between Denison University 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.

Denison University
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Denison 2,394
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Denison #95
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Denison -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Denison Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Denison
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Denison $67,000
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Denison $67,000
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Denison $16,400
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Denison $43,721
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Denison $38,179
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Denison 94%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Denison 15,012
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Denison 2,611
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Denison 17.4%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Denison 23.8%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Denison 1410
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Denison 31
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Denison 3.76
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Denison A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Denison Exceptional
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Denison Very High
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Denison 30/33
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Denison Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Denison 48%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Denison 52%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Denison Medium
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Denison No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Denison 66%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Denison 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Denison 7%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Denison 10%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Denison 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Denison 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Denison 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Denison 8%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Denison 2%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Denison 23%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Denison 58%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Denison University in Granville, OH 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 Denison based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Denison University is located in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Denison University 9:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Denison vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Denison 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 Denison ($18,856 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 20.4% lower than at Denison University ($13,056 vs. $16,400).
  • Denison University is 370.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $52,750 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 112% higher at Denison than at James Madison University (about $35,396 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Denison University than at James Madison University (94% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 215.2% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($38,179 vs. $12,114).

Denison vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Denison 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 Denison.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Denison University (1410) is 150 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Denison students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Denison University 1320/1490; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Denison University 30/33; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Denison - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Denison Jan 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (71.5%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.8% at Denison vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Denison vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Denison 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 Denison University's (79%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than Denison graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $5,101 lower median loan debt than Denison graduates ($20,899 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.