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Mason Virginia Tech VCU UVA CNU Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD Elon ASU Penn State| Gardner Webb University | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
GWU | JMU | ||
| Location | Boiling Springs, NC | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,125 | 22,758 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #604 | #259 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Southern Baptist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | gardner-webb.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
GWU | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $32,470 | $7,914 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $32,470 | $25,128 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,770 | $12,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,035 | $26,317 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $24,762 | $4,456 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 81% |
Admission |
GWU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,670 | 35,750 | ||
| Admitted | 4,064 | 27,258 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87% | 76.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 10.1% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.74 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/26 | 25/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1040/1260 | 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, 2025 |
Academics |
GWU | JMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
GWU | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 55% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,500 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 52% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,969 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $216 |
Diversity |
GWU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 29% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 17% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 10% | 3% |
Students |
GWU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 54% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 41% | 26% | ||
Campus |
GWU | JMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- James Madison University is larger than than GWU based on total student enrollment (22,758 students vs. 3,125 students)
GWU vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, GWU or JMU?
- Gardner Webb University is 310.3% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($32,470.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 29.2% higher at GWU than James Madison University ($32,470.00 vs. $25,128.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Gardner Webb University than JMU ($24,035 vs. $26,317)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gardner Webb University are 16.8% lower than costs at James Madison University ($10,770 vs. $12,584)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Gardner Webb University than James Madison University (99% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Gardner Webb University students is 455.7% larger than aid received James Madison University ($24,762 vs. $4,456)
GWU vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, GWU or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or GWU .
- The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 157 points higher than at GWU (977)
- Incoming JMU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at GWU (21)
- Accepted freshman GWU students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at JMU (3.57)
- GWU has a higher acceptance rate (87%) than JMU (76.2%)
GWU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, GWU 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 GWU.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Gardner Webb University (81% vs. 55%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $19,800 more per year than GWU graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $40,500)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $4,070 lower median federal student loan debt than GWU graduates. ($20,899 vs. $24,969)
- JMU graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than GWU graduates. ($216 vs. $258)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GWU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 52%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/