Elon vs. JMU

Deciding between Elon 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.

Elon University
James Madison University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Elon Elon, NC
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Elon Small Suburban
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Elon 7,239
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Elon Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Elon #140
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Elon -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Elon Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Elon
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Elon $46,958
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Elon $46,958
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Elon $14,985
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Elon $44,440
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Elon $17,867
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Elon 77%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Elon 18,105
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Elon 12,012
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Elon 66.3%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Elon 13.4%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Elon 1210
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Elon 25
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Elon 3.65
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Elon A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Elon Challenging
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Elon Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Elon 23/28
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Elon 1130/1280
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Elon Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Elon Jan 10, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Elon 11:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Elon
    • Business (22%)
    • Communication (19%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Elon 82%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Elon $56,200
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Elon 86%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Elon $23,250
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Elon $240
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Elon 40%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Elon 60%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Elon Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Elon No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Elon 82%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Elon 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Elon 6%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Elon 5%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Elon 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Elon 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Elon 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Elon 2%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Elon 1%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Elon 21%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Elon 77%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Elon University in Elon, NC 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 Elon based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 7,239 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Elon University is located in Elon, NC (Small Suburban setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Elon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Elon University 11:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Elon vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elon 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 Elon ($18,856 vs. $44,440).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 12.9% lower than at Elon University ($13,056 vs. $14,985).
  • Elon University is 229.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $32,708 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 48.6% higher at Elon than at James Madison University (about $15,354 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elon University than at James Madison University (77% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elon University students is 47.5% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($17,867 vs. $12,114).

Elon vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Elon 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 Elon.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 50 points higher than at Elon (1210).
  • Incoming JMU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Elon).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elon University 1130/1280; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elon University 23/28; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elon - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Elon Jan 10, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Elon students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Elon (66.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.4% at Elon vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Elon vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elon 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).

  • Elon University's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than James Madison University's (81%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than Elon graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $2,351 lower median loan debt than Elon graduates ($20,899 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Elon graduates ($216 vs. $240).
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former JMU students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.