Earlham vs. JMU

Deciding between Earlham 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.

Earlham College
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Earlham Richmond, IN
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Earlham Distant Town
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Earlham 753
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Earlham Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Earlham
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Earlham Friends
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Earlham Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Earlham
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Earlham $53,930
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Earlham $53,930
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Earlham $13,985
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Earlham $27,107
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Earlham $40,618
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Earlham 100%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Earlham 2,075
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Earlham 1,517
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Earlham 73.1%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Earlham 13.9%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Earlham 1200
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Earlham 28
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Earlham 3.67
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Earlham A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Earlham Difficult
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Earlham Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Earlham 24/33
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Earlham 1110/1290
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Earlham Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Earlham Mar 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Earlham 7:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Earlham
    • General Studies (18%)
    • Biology (17%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Earlham 66%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Earlham $39,100
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Earlham 75%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Earlham $26,000
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Earlham $268
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Earlham 47%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Earlham 53%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Earlham High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Earlham No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Earlham 51%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Earlham 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Earlham 12%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Earlham 6%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Earlham 1%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Earlham 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Earlham 0%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Earlham 22%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Earlham 2%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Earlham 39%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Earlham 41%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Earlham College in Richmond, IN 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 Earlham based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 753 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Earlham College is located in Richmond, IN (Distant Town setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Earlham College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Earlham College 7:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Earlham vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Earlham 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 Earlham ($18,856 vs. $27,107).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 6.6% lower than at Earlham College ($13,056 vs. $13,985).
  • Earlham College is 278.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $39,680 more per year; $53,930.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 70.6% higher at Earlham than at James Madison University (about $22,326 more per year; $53,930.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Earlham College than at James Madison University (100% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Earlham College students is 235.3% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($40,618 vs. $12,114).

Earlham vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Earlham 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 Earlham.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 60 points higher than at Earlham (1200).
  • Incoming Earlham students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Earlham College 1110/1290; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Earlham College 24/33; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Earlham - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Earlham Mar 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Earlham students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • Earlham has a higher acceptance rate (73.1%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Earlham vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Earlham vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Earlham 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 Earlham College's (66%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $21,200 more per year than Earlham graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $5,101 lower median loan debt than Earlham graduates ($20,899 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Earlham graduates ($216 vs. $268).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Earlham students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 75%)

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.