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Mason Virginia Tech VCU UVA CNU Old Dominion Furman Mary Washington College William & Mary UD Wofford College ASU| Elon University | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Elon | JMU | ||
| Location | Elon, NC | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 7,207 | 22,758 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #134 | #259 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | elon.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Elon | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $44,029 | $7,914 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $44,029 | $25,128 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,478 | $12,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $41,849 | $26,317 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $17,523 | $4,456 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 69% | 81% |
Admission |
Elon | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,791 | 35,750 | ||
| Admitted | 12,649 | 27,258 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 67.3% | 76.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.65 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 23/28 | 25/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1143/1305 | 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 | Jan 10, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Elon | JMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Elon | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,200 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 86% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,250 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $240 | $216 |
Diversity |
Elon | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 7% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
Elon | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 18% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 80% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Elon | 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 Elon based on total student enrollment (22,758 students vs. 7,207 students)
Elon vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Elon or JMU?
- Elon University is 456.3% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($44,029.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 75.2% higher at Elon than James Madison University ($44,029.00 vs. $25,128.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Elon ($26,317 vs. $41,849)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 15.1% lower than costs at Elon University ($12,584 vs. $14,478)
- More students receive financial grant aid at James Madison University than Elon University (81% vs. 69%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Elon University students is 293.2% larger than aid received James Madison University ($17,523 vs. $4,456)
Elon vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Elon or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or Elon .
- The average SAT score at Elon University (1211) is 77 points higher than at JMU (1134)
- Incoming Elon students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at JMU (25)
- 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 (76.2%) than Elon (67.3%)
Elon vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Elon 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 Elon.
- The graduation rate at Elon is higher than James Madison University (82% vs. 81%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $4,100 more per year than Elon graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $56,200)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $2,351 lower median federal student loan debt than Elon graduates. ($20,899 vs. $23,250)
- JMU graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans 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/