JMU vs. Mary Washington College

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

JMU Mary Washington College
Location Harrisonburg, VA Fredericksburg, VA
Setting Small City Small Suburban
Enrollment 22,224 3,757
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #260 #283
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website jmu.edu umw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

JMU Mary Washington College
Tuition (In State) $7,684 $8,938
Tuition (Out of State) $24,744 $25,858
Room & Board $12,040 $12,090
Avg Net Price $18,274 $21,863
Avg Grant Aid $10,081 $9,046
% Receiving Grant Aid 33% 93%

Admission

JMU Mary Washington College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 30,727 4,709
Admitted 24,062 4,040
Acceptance Rate 78.3% 85.8%
Enrolled % 20.2% 18.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.57 3.71
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 25/30
SAT Range 1140/1320 1170/1340
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 Mary Washington College
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Social Sciences (19%)
  • Business (12%)
  • General Studies (11%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

JMU Mary Washington College
Graduation Rate 81% 71%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,300 $55,500
Making Student Loan Payments 83% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,899 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $216 $222

Diversity

JMU Mary Washington College
% Men 42% 37%
% Women 58% 63%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 70%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 6% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 6%

Students

JMU Mary Washington College
% In-State 73% 87%
% Out-of-State 26% 10%

Campus

JMU Mary Washington College
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 Mary Washington College based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 3,757 students)

JMU vs. Mary Washington College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, JMU or Mary Washington College?

  • University of Mary Washington is 16.3% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($8,938.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.5% higher at Mary Washington College than James Madison University ($25,858.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Mary Washington College ($18,274 vs. $21,863)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 0.4% lower than costs at University of Mary Washington ($12,040 vs. $12,090)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Mary Washington than James Madison University (93% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 11.4% larger than aid received University of Mary Washington ($10,081 vs. $9,046)

JMU vs. Mary Washington College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 24 points higher than at Mary Washington College (1110)
  • Incoming JMU students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at Mary Washington College (25)
  • Accepted freshman Mary Washington College students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at JMU (3.57)
  • Mary Washington College has a higher acceptance rate (85.8%) than JMU (78.3%)

JMU vs. Mary Washington College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, JMU or Mary Washington College? 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 Mary Washington College and JMU.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than University of Mary Washington (81% vs. 71%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $4,800 more per year than Mary Washington College graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $55,500)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $601 lower median federal student loan debt than Mary Washington College graduates. ($20,899 vs. $21,500)
  • JMU graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than Mary Washington College graduates. ($216 vs. $222)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mary Washington College students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 80%)

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