Furman vs. JMU

Deciding between Furman 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.

Furman University
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Furman Greenville, SC
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Furman Large Suburban
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Furman 2,554
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Furman Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Furman #104
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Furman -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Furman Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Furman
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Furman $59,770
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Furman $59,770
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Furman $16,504
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Furman $34,086
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Furman $42,811
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Furman 100%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Furman 10,813
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Furman 4,644
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Furman 42.9%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Furman 13.1%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Furman 1350
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Furman 30
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Furman 3.61
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Furman A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Furman Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Furman Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Furman 28/32
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Furman 1260/1430
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Furman Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Furman Jan 15, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Furman 10:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Furman
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Furman 87%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Furman $54,300
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Furman 82%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Furman $25,443
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Furman $263
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Furman 41%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Furman 59%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Furman Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Furman No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Furman 78%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Furman 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Furman 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Furman 4%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Furman 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Furman 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Furman 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Furman 6%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Furman 2%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Furman 29%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Furman 62%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Furman University in Greenville, SC 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 Furman based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 2,554 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Furman University is located in Greenville, SC (Large Suburban setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Furman University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Furman University 10:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Furman vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Furman 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 Furman ($18,856 vs. $34,086).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 20.9% lower than at Furman University ($13,056 vs. $16,504).
  • Furman University is 319.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $45,520 more per year; $59,770.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 89.1% higher at Furman than at James Madison University (about $28,166 more per year; $59,770.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Furman University than at James Madison University (100% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Furman University students is 253.4% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($42,811 vs. $12,114).

Furman vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Furman 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 Furman.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Furman University (1350) is 90 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Furman students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Furman University 1260/1430; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Furman University 28/32; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Furman - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Furman Jan 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Furman students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Furman (42.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.1% at Furman vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Furman vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Furman 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).

  • Furman University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than James Madison University's (81%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than Furman graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $54,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $4,544 lower median loan debt than Furman graduates ($20,899 vs. $25,443).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Furman graduates ($216 vs. $263).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Furman students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 82%)

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.