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Mason Virginia Tech VCU UVA CNU Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD Elon ASU Penn State| James Madison University | Shenandoah University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
JMU | SU | ||
| Location | Harrisonburg, VA | Winchester, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 22,758 | 4,343 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #259 | #523 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | jmu.edu | su.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
JMU | SU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,914 | $34,614 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,128 | $34,614 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,584 | $11,800 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,317 | $26,400 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,456 | $24,100 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 81% | 100% |
Admission |
JMU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 35,750 | 3,763 | ||
| Admitted | 27,258 | 2,929 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 76.2% | 77.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.1% | 16.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.57 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 25/29 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1170/1320 | 1010/1230 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
JMU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
JMU | SU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 81% | 45% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $60,300 | $48,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 83% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,899 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $216 | $258 |
Diversity |
JMU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 5% | 31% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 13% |
Students |
JMU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 73% | 58% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 42% | ||
Campus |
JMU | SU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- James Madison University is larger than than SU based on total student enrollment (22,758 students vs. 4,343 students)
JMU vs. SU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, JMU or SU?
- Shenandoah University is 337.4% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($34,614.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 37.8% higher at SU than James Madison University ($34,614.00 vs. $25,128.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than SU ($26,317 vs. $26,400)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 6.6% lower than costs at James Madison University ($11,800 vs. $12,584)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Shenandoah University than James Madison University (100% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 440.8% larger than aid received James Madison University ($24,100 vs. $4,456)
JMU vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, JMU or SU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SU or JMU .
- The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 129 points higher than at SU (1005)
- Incoming JMU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at SU (22)
- Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at JMU (3.57)
- SU has a higher acceptance rate (77.8%) than JMU (76.2%)
JMU vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, JMU or SU? 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 SU and JMU.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Shenandoah University (81% vs. 45%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $12,000 more per year than SU graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $48,300)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $4,101 lower median federal student loan debt than SU graduates. ($20,899 vs. $25,000)
- JMU graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than SU graduates. ($216 vs. $258)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 60%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/