Ithaca College vs. JMU

Deciding between Ithaca College 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.

Ithaca College
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ithaca College Ithaca, NY
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Ithaca College Small Suburban
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Ithaca College 4,767
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Ithaca College Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ithaca College #163
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ithaca College -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Ithaca College Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ithaca College
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Ithaca College $16,192
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Ithaca College $35,253
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ithaca College $33,450
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ithaca College 100%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ithaca College 12,400
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Ithaca College 8,557
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ithaca College 69%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Ithaca College 12.3%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ithaca College 1310
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ithaca College 28
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ithaca College -
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ithaca College -
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ithaca College Difficult
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ithaca College Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Ithaca College 27/30
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Ithaca College 1230/1390
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ithaca College Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ithaca College 10:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ithaca College
    • Communication (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ithaca College 74%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ithaca College $56,100
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ithaca College 84%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ithaca College $25,750
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ithaca College $266
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Ithaca College 57%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ithaca College Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Ithaca College No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Ithaca College 71%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Ithaca College 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Ithaca College 6%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ithaca College 8%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ithaca College 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Ithaca College 2%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ithaca College 7%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ithaca College 55%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY 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 Ithaca College based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 4,767 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Ithaca College vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ithaca College 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 Ithaca College ($18,856 vs. $35,253).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 19.4% lower than at Ithaca College ($13,056 vs. $16,192).
  • Ithaca College is 275.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $39,290 more per year; $53,540.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 69.4% higher at Ithaca College than at James Madison University (about $21,936 more per year; $53,540.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ithaca College than at James Madison University (100% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ithaca College students is 176.1% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($33,450 vs. $12,114).

Ithaca College vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ithaca College 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 Ithaca College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ithaca College (1310) is 50 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Ithaca College 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: Ithaca College 1230/1390; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ithaca College 27/30; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ithaca College - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Ithaca College (69%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at Ithaca College vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Ithaca College vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ithaca College 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).

  • James Madison University's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Ithaca College's (74%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than Ithaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $4,851 lower median loan debt than Ithaca College graduates ($20,899 vs. $25,750).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ithaca College graduates ($216 vs. $266).
  • More Ithaca College 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.