Drexel vs. JMU

Deciding between Drexel 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.

Drexel University
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Drexel Philadelphia, PA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Drexel Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Drexel 21,153
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Drexel Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Drexel #118
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Drexel -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Drexel Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Drexel
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Drexel $18,096
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Drexel $42,801
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Drexel $35,051
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Drexel 100%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Drexel 37,314
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Drexel 29,642
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Drexel 79.4%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Drexel 8.1%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Drexel 1340
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Drexel 29
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Drexel 3.67
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Drexel A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Drexel Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Drexel
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Drexel 27/32
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Drexel 1240/1440
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Drexel Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Drexel Jan 15, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Drexel 9:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Drexel
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Drexel 68%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Drexel $77,400
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Drexel 77%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Drexel $26,243
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Drexel $271
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Drexel 46%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Drexel 54%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Drexel High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Drexel No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Drexel 54%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Drexel 14%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Drexel 7%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Drexel 6%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Drexel 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Drexel 1%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Drexel 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Drexel 13%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Drexel 2%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Drexel 46%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Drexel 44%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA 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 Drexel based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 21,153 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Drexel University is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Drexel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Drexel University 9:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Drexel vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drexel 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 Drexel ($18,856 vs. $42,801).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 27.9% lower than at Drexel University ($13,056 vs. $18,096).
  • Drexel University is 338% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $48,162 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 97.5% higher at Drexel than at James Madison University (about $30,808 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drexel University than at James Madison University (100% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drexel University students is 189.3% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($35,051 vs. $12,114).

Drexel vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Drexel 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 Drexel.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Drexel University (1340) is 80 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Drexel students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 1240/1440; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 27/32; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Drexel - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Drexel Jan 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Drexel students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.1% at Drexel vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Drexel vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Drexel 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 Drexel University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Drexel University earn a median of about $17,100 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,400 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $5,344 lower median loan debt than Drexel graduates ($20,899 vs. $26,243).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drexel graduates ($216 vs. $271).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Drexel students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 77%)

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.