Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. JMU

Should I go to Hobart William Smith Colleges or James Madison University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Hobart William Smith Colleges or JMU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. James Madison University comparison
Hobart William Smith Colleges James Madison University College 3 College 4
Hobart William Smith Colleges James Madison University
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Overview

 Hobart William Smith Colleges JMU
Location Geneva, NY Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 1,669 22,758
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #133 #259
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hws.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Hobart William Smith Colleges JMU
Tuition (In State) $61,858 $7,914
Tuition (Out of State) $61,858 $25,128
Room & Board $17,334 $12,584
Avg Net Price $33,172 $26,317
Avg Grant Aid $47,463 $4,456
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 81%

Admission

 Hobart William Smith Colleges JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,560 35,750
Admitted 3,185 27,258
Acceptance Rate 57.3% 76.2%
Enrolled % 14.5% 18.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.55 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/32 25/29
SAT Range 1220/1360 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 Feb 1, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

 Hobart William Smith Colleges JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

 Hobart William Smith Colleges JMU
Graduation Rate 75% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,200 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $279 $216

Diversity

 Hobart William Smith Colleges JMU
% Men 1% 2%
% Women 2% 5%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 76%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 6% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 4%
% International 6% 2%
% Unknown Race 7% 3%

Students

 Hobart William Smith Colleges JMU
% In-State 41% 73%
% Out-of-State 55% 26%

Campus

 Hobart William Smith Colleges 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges based on total student enrollment (22,758 students vs. 1,669 students)

Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hobart William Smith Colleges or JMU?

  • Hobart William Smith Colleges is 681.6% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($61,858.00 vs. $7,914.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 146.2% higher at Hobart William Smith Colleges than James Madison University ($61,858.00 vs. $25,128.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Hobart William Smith Colleges ($26,317 vs. $33,172)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 37.7% lower than costs at Hobart William Smith Colleges ($12,584 vs. $17,334)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Hobart William Smith Colleges than James Madison University (99% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hobart William Smith Colleges students is 965.1% larger than aid received James Madison University ($47,463 vs. $4,456)

Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hobart William Smith Colleges or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or Hobart William Smith Colleges .

  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Hobart William Smith Colleges (3.55)
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (76.2%) than Hobart William Smith Colleges (57.3%)

Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Hobart William Smith Colleges 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Hobart William Smith Colleges (81% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $100 more per year than Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $60,200)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $6,101 lower median federal student loan debt than Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates. ($20,899 vs. $27,000)
  • JMU graduates are paying $63 less per month on federal student loans than Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates. ($216 vs. $279)
  • More Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former JMU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 83%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/