Fordham vs. JMU

Deciding between Fordham 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.

Fordham University
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Fordham Bronx, NY
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Fordham Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Fordham 16,150
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Fordham Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Fordham #133
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Fordham Roman Catholic
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Fordham Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Fordham
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Fordham $64,915
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Fordham $64,915
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Fordham $24,090
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Fordham $48,190
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Fordham $35,988
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Fordham 95%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Fordham 43,364
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Fordham 25,719
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Fordham 59.3%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Fordham 9.7%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Fordham 1400
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Fordham 31
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Fordham 3.67
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Fordham A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Fordham Exceptional
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Fordham Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Fordham 30/33
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Fordham 1320/1480
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Fordham Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Fordham Jan 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Fordham 14:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Fordham
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Fordham 78%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Fordham $64,200
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Fordham 77%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Fordham $26,000
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Fordham $268
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Fordham 39%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Fordham 61%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Fordham High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Fordham No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Fordham 59%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Fordham 10%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Fordham 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Fordham 14%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Fordham 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Fordham 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Fordham 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Fordham 7%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Fordham 2%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Fordham 38%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Fordham 51%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Fordham University in Bronx, NY 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 Fordham based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 16,150 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Fordham University is located in Bronx, NY (Large City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Fordham University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Fordham University 14:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Fordham vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fordham 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 Fordham ($18,856 vs. $48,190).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 45.8% lower than at Fordham University ($13,056 vs. $24,090).
  • Fordham University is 355.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $50,665 more per year; $64,915.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 105.4% higher at Fordham than at James Madison University (about $33,311 more per year; $64,915.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fordham University than at James Madison University (95% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fordham University students is 197.1% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($35,988 vs. $12,114).

Fordham vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fordham 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 Fordham.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Fordham University (1400) is 140 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Fordham students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fordham University 1320/1480; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fordham University 30/33; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fordham - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Fordham Jan 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Fordham 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 (71.5%) than Fordham (59.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.7% at Fordham vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Fordham vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fordham 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 Fordham University's (78%).
  • Graduates from Fordham University earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,200 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $5,101 lower median loan debt than Fordham graduates ($20,899 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fordham graduates ($216 vs. $268).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fordham students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 77%)

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.