F&M vs. JMU

Deciding between Franklin and Marshall College 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.

Franklin and Marshall College
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • F&M Small City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • F&M 1,808
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • F&M #60
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • F&M -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • F&M Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • F&M
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • F&M $70,794
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • F&M $70,794
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • F&M $16,188
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • F&M $43,987
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • F&M $41,901
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • F&M 80%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • F&M 9,881
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • F&M 2,785
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • F&M 28.2%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • F&M 17.1%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • F&M 1390
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • F&M 31
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • F&M -
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • F&M -
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • F&M Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • F&M High
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • F&M 30/33
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • F&M Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • F&M 49%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • F&M 51%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • F&M High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • F&M No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • F&M 59%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • F&M 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • F&M 6%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • F&M 8%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • F&M 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • F&M 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • F&M 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • F&M 14%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • F&M 6%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • F&M 29%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • F&M 55%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA 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 F&M based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Franklin and Marshall College is located in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Franklin and Marshall College 9:1; James Madison University 17:1.

F&M vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, F&M 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 F&M ($18,856 vs. $43,987).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 19.3% lower than at Franklin and Marshall College ($13,056 vs. $16,188).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is 396.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $56,544 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 124% higher at F&M than at James Madison University (about $39,190 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than at James Madison University (80% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 245.9% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($41,901 vs. $12,114).

F&M vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, F&M 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 F&M.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franklin and Marshall College (1390) is 130 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming F&M 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: Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franklin and Marshall College 30/33; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: F&M - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: F&M Jan 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than F&M (28.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at F&M vs. 18.2% at JMU.

F&M vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for F&M 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).

  • Franklin and Marshall College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than James Madison University's (81%).
  • Graduates from Franklin and Marshall College earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $1,101 lower median loan debt than F&M graduates ($20,899 vs. $22,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.