Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Mason Virginia Tech VCU UVA CNU Dickinson College Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD Gettysburg College Elon| Franklin and Marshall College | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
F&M | JMU | ||
| Location | Lancaster, PA | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,911 | 22,758 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #61 | #259 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | fandm.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
F&M | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $68,180 | $7,914 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $68,180 | $25,128 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,568 | $12,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $37,475 | $26,317 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $45,764 | $4,456 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 68% | 81% |
Admission |
F&M | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,231 | 35,750 | ||
| Admitted | 2,938 | 27,258 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 31.8% | 76.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.8% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | 25/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1298/1460 | 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 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
F&M | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
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 | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 5% | ||
| 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 | 59% | 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 (22,758 students vs. 1,911 students)
F&M vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, F&M or JMU?
- Franklin and Marshall College is 761.5% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($68,180.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 171.3% higher at F&M than James Madison University ($68,180.00 vs. $25,128.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than F&M ($26,317 vs. $37,475)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 23.7% lower than costs at Franklin and Marshall College ($12,584 vs. $15,568)
- More students receive financial grant aid at James Madison University than Franklin and Marshall College (81% vs. 68%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 927% larger than aid received James Madison University ($45,764 vs. $4,456)
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 (76.2%) than F&M (31.8%)
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/