EMU vs. JMU

Deciding between Eastern Mennonite 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.

Eastern Mennonite University
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • EMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • EMU Small City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • EMU 1,154
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • EMU Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EMU #1044
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EMU Mennonite Church
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • EMU Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EMU
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EMU $43,920
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EMU $43,920
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • EMU $13,170
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • EMU $25,021
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EMU $32,378
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EMU 96%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EMU 1,470
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • EMU 1,470
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EMU 100%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • EMU 12.4%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EMU 1320
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • EMU 29
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • EMU 3.7
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EMU A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • EMU Elite
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • EMU
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • EMU 25/34
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • EMU 1040/1590
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EMU Test-free
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • EMU
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EMU 9:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EMU
    • Health Professions (30%)
    • Business (22%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
    • General Studies (5%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EMU 66%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EMU $43,900
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EMU 80%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EMU $23,450
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EMU $242
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EMU 36%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • EMU 64%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EMU Medium
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • EMU No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • EMU 71%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • EMU 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • EMU 10%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • EMU 8%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • EMU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EMU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EMU 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • EMU 3%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EMU 2%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EMU 63%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EMU 31%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA 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 EMU based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 1,154 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

EMU vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EMU 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 EMU ($18,856 vs. $25,021).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 0.9% lower than at Eastern Mennonite University ($13,056 vs. $13,170).
  • Eastern Mennonite University is 208.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $29,670 more per year; $43,920.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39% higher at EMU than at James Madison University (about $12,316 more per year; $43,920.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Mennonite University than at James Madison University (96% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Mennonite University students is 167.3% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($32,378 vs. $12,114).

EMU vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EMU 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 EMU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Eastern Mennonite University (1320) is 60 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming EMU 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: Eastern Mennonite University 1040/1590; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Mennonite University 25/34; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EMU - Test-free; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman EMU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • EMU has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.4% at EMU vs. 18.2% at JMU.

EMU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EMU 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 Eastern Mennonite University's (66%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $16,400 more per year than EMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $2,551 lower median loan debt than EMU graduates ($20,899 vs. $23,450).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than EMU graduates ($216 vs. $242).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former EMU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 80%)

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.