FDU vs. JMU

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

 FDU JMU
Location Madison, NJ Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 2,823 22,224
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #342 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fdu.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 FDU JMU
Tuition (In State) $33,264 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $33,264 $24,744
Room & Board $15,588 $12,040
Avg Net Price $21,408 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $28,436 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 33%

Admission

 FDU JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,421 30,727
Admitted 3,940 24,062
Acceptance Rate 89.1% 78.3%
Enrolled % 11.9% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/30 23/29
SAT Range 1040/1310 1140/1320
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 15, 2025

Academics

 FDU JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Psychology (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

 FDU JMU
Graduation Rate 55% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $52,900 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $268 $216

Diversity

 FDU JMU
% Men 41% 42%
% Women 59% 58%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 58% 76%
% Black 11% 4%
% Hispanic 16% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 7% 3%

Students

 FDU JMU
% In-State 81% 73%
% Out-of-State 18% 26%

Campus

 FDU JMU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • James Madison University is larger than than FDU based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 2,823 students)

FDU vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FDU or JMU?

  • Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham is 332.9% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($33,264.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 34.4% higher at FDU than James Madison University ($33,264.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than FDU ($18,274 vs. $21,408)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 29.5% lower than costs at Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham ($12,040 vs. $15,588)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham than James Madison University (100% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham students is 182.1% larger than aid received James Madison University ($28,436 vs. $10,081)

FDU vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 100 points higher than at FDU (1034)
  • Incoming JMU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at FDU (23)
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at FDU (3.42)
  • FDU has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than JMU (78.3%)

FDU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, FDU 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 FDU.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham (81% vs. 55%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $7,400 more per year than FDU graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $52,900)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $5,101 lower median federal student loan debt than FDU graduates. ($20,899 vs. $26,000)
  • JMU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than FDU graduates. ($216 vs. $268)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FDU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/