HPU vs. JMU

Deciding between High Point 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.

High Point University
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • HPU High Point, NC
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • HPU Midsize City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • HPU 6,331
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • HPU Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HPU
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HPU United Methodist
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • HPU Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HPU
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HPU $45,312
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HPU $45,312
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • HPU $18,924
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • HPU $43,086
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HPU $22,664
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HPU 95%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HPU 17,572
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • HPU 13,233
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HPU 75.3%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • HPU 11.5%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • HPU 1220
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • HPU 28
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • HPU 3.4
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HPU B+
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • HPU Difficult
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • HPU
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • HPU 24/33
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • HPU 1110/1320
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HPU Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • HPU Mar 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HPU 21:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HPU
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HPU -
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HPU $42,000
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HPU 69%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HPU $22,421
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HPU $231
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HPU 42%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • HPU 58%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HPU Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • HPU No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • HPU 79%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • HPU 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • HPU 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • HPU 4%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • HPU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HPU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HPU 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • HPU 3%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HPU 1%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HPU 25%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HPU 73%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare High Point University in High Point, NC 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 HPU based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 6,331 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • High Point University is located in High Point, NC (Midsize City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • High Point University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: High Point University 21:1; James Madison University 17:1.

HPU vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HPU 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 HPU ($18,856 vs. $43,086).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 31% lower than at High Point University ($13,056 vs. $18,924).
  • High Point University is 218% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $31,062 more per year; $45,312.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 43.4% higher at HPU than at James Madison University (about $13,708 more per year; $45,312.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at High Point University than at James Madison University (95% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by High Point University students is 87.1% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($22,664 vs. $12,114).

HPU vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HPU 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 HPU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 40 points higher than at HPU (1220).
  • Incoming HPU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: High Point University 1110/1320; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: High Point University 24/33; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HPU - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: HPU Mar 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at HPU (3.4).
  • HPU has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at HPU vs. 18.2% at JMU.

HPU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HPU 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).

  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $18,300 more per year than HPU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $1,522 lower median loan debt than HPU graduates ($20,899 vs. $22,421).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HPU graduates ($216 vs. $231).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HPU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 69%)

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.