Earlham vs. JMU

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

Earlham JMU
Location Richmond, IN Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 696 22,758
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #259
Religious Affiliation Friends - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website earlham.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Earlham JMU
Tuition (In State) $50,970 $7,914
Tuition (Out of State) $50,970 $25,128
Room & Board $13,193 $12,584
Avg Net Price $26,517 $26,317
Avg Grant Aid $38,111 $4,456
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 81%

Admission

Earlham JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,765 35,750
Admitted 1,310 27,258
Acceptance Rate 74.2% 76.2%
Enrolled % 15.4% 18.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/30 25/29
SAT Range 1178/1363 1170/1320
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 Mar 1, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

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

Students

Earlham JMU
% In-State 33% 73%
% Out-of-State 56% 26%

Campus

Earlham 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 Earlham based on total student enrollment (22,758 students vs. 696 students)

Earlham vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Earlham or JMU?

  • Earlham College is 544% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($50,970.00 vs. $7,914.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 102.8% higher at Earlham than James Madison University ($50,970.00 vs. $25,128.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Earlham ($26,317 vs. $26,517)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 4.8% lower than costs at Earlham College ($12,584 vs. $13,193)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Earlham College than James Madison University (100% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Earlham College students is 755.3% larger than aid received James Madison University ($38,111 vs. $4,456)

Earlham vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Earlham students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at JMU (3.57)
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (76.2%) than Earlham (74.2%)

Earlham vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Earlham 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 Earlham.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Earlham College (81% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $21,200 more per year than Earlham graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $39,100)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $5,101 lower median federal student loan debt than Earlham graduates. ($20,899 vs. $26,000)
  • JMU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans 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/