JMU vs. PHC

Deciding between James Madison University and Patrick Henry College? 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.

James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • PHC Purcellville, Virginia
  • Setting
  • JMU Small City
  • PHC Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • JMU 22,740
  • PHC 425
  • Type
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • PHC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • JMU #246
  • PHC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • JMU -
  • PHC Non-Denominational
  • Status
  • JMU Non-profit
  • PHC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • JMU
  • PHC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • JMU $14,250
  • PHC $28,425
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • JMU $31,604
  • PHC $28,425
  • Room & Board
  • JMU $13,056
  • PHC $11,020
  • Average Net Price
  • JMU $18,856
  • PHC $25,869
  • Average Grant Aid
  • JMU $12,114
  • PHC $13,345
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • JMU 33%
  • PHC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • JMU 38,428
  • PHC 266
  • Admitted
  • JMU 27,482
  • PHC 206
  • Acceptance Rate
  • JMU 71.5%
  • PHC 77.4%
  • Enrolled
  • JMU 18.2%
  • PHC 47.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • JMU 1260
  • PHC 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • JMU 26
  • PHC 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • JMU 3.57
  • PHC 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • JMU A-
  • PHC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • JMU Difficult
  • PHC Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • JMU Low
  • PHC
  • ACT Range
  • JMU 24/29
  • PHC 27/33
  • SAT Range
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • PHC 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • JMU Test optional
  • PHC Required
  • Application Deadline
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027
  • PHC Jul 15, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • JMU 81%
  • PHC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • JMU $60,300
  • PHC N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • JMU 83%
  • PHC -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • JMU $20,899
  • PHC N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • JMU $216
  • PHC N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • JMU 43%
  • PHC 55%
  • % Women
  • JMU 57%
  • PHC 45%
  • Racial Diversity
  • JMU Low
  • PHC -
  • HBCU
  • JMU No
  • PHC No
  • % White
  • JMU 76%
  • PHC 0%
  • % Asian
  • JMU 4%
  • PHC 0%
  • % Black
  • JMU 4%
  • PHC 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • JMU 6%
  • PHC 0%
  • % Native American
  • JMU 0%
  • PHC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • JMU 0%
  • PHC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • JMU 4%
  • PHC 0%
  • % International
  • JMU 2%
  • PHC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • JMU 3%
  • PHC 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • JMU 69%
  • PHC 17%
  • % Out-of-State
  • JMU 30%
  • PHC 83%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA with Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Virginia on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

James Madison University is larger than PHC based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 425 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting); Patrick Henry College is in Purcellville, Virginia (Town Fringe setting).
  • James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Patrick Henry College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: James Madison University 17:1; Patrick Henry College 14:1.

JMU vs. PHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, JMU or PHC? 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 PHC ($18,856 vs. $25,869).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Patrick Henry College are 15.6% lower than at James Madison University ($11,020 vs. $13,056).
  • Patrick Henry College is 99.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $14,175 more per year; $28,425.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.2% higher at JMU than at Patrick Henry College (about $3,179 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $28,425.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Patrick Henry College than at James Madison University (100% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Patrick Henry College students is 10.2% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($13,345 vs. $12,114).

JMU vs. PHC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, JMU or PHC? 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 PHC and JMU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Patrick Henry College (1330) is 70 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming PHC students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: James Madison University 1170/1340; Patrick Henry College 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: James Madison University 24/29; Patrick Henry College 27/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: JMU - Test optional; PHC - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027; PHC Jul 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman PHC students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • PHC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at JMU vs. 47.6% at PHC.

JMU vs. PHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for JMU and PHC? 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).

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.