Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Mason Virginia Tech VCU UVA CNU Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD Elon ASU Penn State| James Madison University | Radford University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
JMU | RU | ||
| Location | Harrisonburg, VA | Radford, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 22,224 | 7,718 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #260 | #566 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | jmu.edu | radford.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
JMU | RU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,684 | $8,156 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,744 | $20,246 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,040 | $10,567 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,274 | $17,105 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,081 | $9,733 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 33% | 96% |
Admission |
JMU | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 30,727 | 11,442 | ||
| Admitted | 24,062 | 10,680 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 78.3% | 93.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.2% | 11.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.57 | 3.31 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/29 | 19/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 1140/1320 | 960/1160 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
JMU | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 12:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
JMU | RU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 81% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $60,300 | $47,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 83% | 70% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,899 | $23,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $216 | $237 |
Diversity |
JMU | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 33% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 67% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 71% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 13% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 5% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
JMU | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 73% | 89% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 11% | ||
Campus |
JMU | RU | ||
| 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 RU based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 7,718 students)
JMU vs. RU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, JMU or RU?
- Radford University is 6.1% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($8,156.00 vs. $7,684.00)
- Out of state tuition is 22.2% higher at JMU than Radford University ($24,744.00 vs. $20,246.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Radford University than JMU ($17,105 vs. $18,274)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Radford University are 13.9% lower than costs at James Madison University ($10,567 vs. $12,040)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Radford University than James Madison University (96% vs. 33%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 3.6% larger than aid received Radford University ($10,081 vs. $9,733)
JMU vs. RU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, JMU or RU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RU or JMU .
- Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at RU (3.31)
- RU has a higher acceptance rate (93.3%) than JMU (78.3%)
JMU vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, JMU or RU? 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 RU and JMU.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Radford University (81% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $12,900 more per year than RU graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $47,400)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $2,101 lower median federal student loan debt than RU graduates. ($20,899 vs. $23,000)
- JMU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than RU graduates. ($216 vs. $237)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 70%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/