F&M vs. JMU

Should I go to Franklin and Marshall College or James Madison University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if F&M 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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Franklin and Marshall College vs. James Madison University comparison
Franklin and Marshall College James Madison University College 3 College 4
Franklin and Marshall College James Madison University
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Overview

F&M JMU
Location Lancaster, PA Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 1,990 22,224
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #56 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fandm.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

F&M JMU
Tuition (In State) $65,652 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $65,652 $24,744
Room & Board $15,040 $12,040
Avg Net Price $31,135 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $49,177 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 63% 33%

Admission

F&M JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,923 30,727
Admitted 3,233 24,062
Acceptance Rate 36.2% 78.3%
Enrolled % 15.1% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA - 3.57
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 30/33 23/29
SAT Range 1310/1440 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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

F&M JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

F&M JMU
Graduation Rate 85% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $61,900 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,000 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $227 $216

Diversity

F&M JMU
% Men 47% 42%
% Women 53% 58%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 76%
% Black 6% 4%
% Hispanic 8% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 14% 2%
% Unknown Race 6% 3%

Students

F&M JMU
% In-State 25% 73%
% Out-of-State 53% 26%

Campus

F&M 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 F&M based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 1,990 students)

F&M vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, F&M or JMU?

  • Franklin and Marshall College is 754.4% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($65,652.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 165.3% higher at F&M than James Madison University ($65,652.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than F&M ($18,274 vs. $31,135)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 24.9% lower than costs at Franklin and Marshall College ($12,040 vs. $15,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than James Madison University (63% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 387.8% larger than aid received James Madison University ($49,177 vs. $10,081)

F&M vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than F&M (36.2%)

F&M vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, F&M 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 F&M.

  • The graduation rate at F&M is higher than James Madison University (85% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from Franklin and Marshall College earn on average $1,600 more per year than JMU graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $60,300)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $1,101 lower median federal student loan debt than F&M graduates. ($20,899 vs. $22,000)
  • JMU graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than F&M graduates. ($216 vs. $227)
  • More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former JMU students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 83%)

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