JMU vs. Liberty University

Should I go to James Madison University or Liberty University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if JMU or Liberty University 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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James Madison University vs. Liberty University comparison
James Madison University Liberty University College 3 College 4
James Madison University Liberty University
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Overview

JMU Liberty University
Location Harrisonburg, VA Lynchburg, VA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 22,224 96,709
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #260 #852
Religious Affiliation - Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website jmu.edu liberty.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

JMU Liberty University
Tuition (In State) $7,684 $21,374
Tuition (Out of State) $24,744 $21,374
Room & Board $12,040 $12,350
Avg Net Price $18,274 $29,913
Avg Grant Aid $10,081 $12,471
% Receiving Grant Aid 33% 98%

Admission

JMU Liberty University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 30,727 30,943
Admitted 24,062 30,723
Acceptance Rate 78.3% 99.3%Open
Enrolled % 20.2% 19.9%Open
Avg High School GPA 3.57 3.56
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 21/29
SAT Range 1140/1320 1040/1250
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

JMU Liberty University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (17%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (14%)
  • General Studies (14%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

JMU Liberty University
Graduation Rate 81% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,300 $39,100
Making Student Loan Payments 83% 36%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,899 $24,166
Median Loan Payment $216 $249

Diversity

JMU Liberty University
% Men 42% 41%
% Women 58% 59%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 76% 46%
% Black 4% 13%
% Hispanic 6% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 31%

Students

JMU Liberty University
% In-State 73% 22%
% Out-of-State 26% 76%

Campus

JMU Liberty University
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

  • Liberty University is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (96,709 students vs. 22,224 students)

JMU vs. Liberty University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, JMU or Liberty University?

  • Liberty University is 178.2% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($21,374.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.8% higher at JMU than Liberty University ($24,744.00 vs. $21,374.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Liberty University ($18,274 vs. $29,913)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 2.6% lower than costs at Liberty University ($12,040 vs. $12,350)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Liberty University than James Madison University (98% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Liberty University students is 23.7% larger than aid received James Madison University ($12,471 vs. $10,081)

JMU vs. Liberty University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 64 points higher than at Liberty University (1070)
  • Incoming JMU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Liberty University (24)
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Liberty University (3.56)
  • Liberty University has a higher acceptance rate (99.3%) than JMU (78.3%)

JMU vs. Liberty University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, JMU or Liberty University? 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 Liberty University and JMU.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Liberty University (81% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $21,200 more per year than Liberty University graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $39,100)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $3,267 lower median federal student loan debt than Liberty University graduates. ($20,899 vs. $24,166)
  • JMU graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Liberty University graduates. ($216 vs. $249)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Liberty University students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 36%)

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