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 William & Mary UD Elon ASU Penn State Tennessee| James Madison University | University of Mary Washington | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
JMU | Mary Washington College | ||
| Location | Harrisonburg, VA | Fredericksburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 22,758 | 3,808 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #259 | #262 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | jmu.edu | umw.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
JMU | Mary Washington College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,914 | $8,938 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,128 | $25,858 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,584 | $14,040 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,317 | $21,615 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,456 | $8,901 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 81% | 98% |
Admission |
JMU | Mary Washington College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 35,750 | 4,606 | ||
| Admitted | 27,258 | 3,973 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 76.2% | 86.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.1% | 19.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.57 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 25/29 | 23/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1170/1320 | 1140/1330 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
JMU | Mary Washington College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 13:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
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 | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 5% | 3% | ||
| 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% | 88% | ||
| % 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 (22,758 students vs. 3,808 students)
JMU vs. Mary Washington College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, JMU or Mary Washington College?
- University of Mary Washington is 12.9% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($8,938.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.9% higher at Mary Washington College than James Madison University ($25,858.00 vs. $25,128.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Mary Washington than JMU ($21,615 vs. $26,317)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 11.6% lower than costs at University of Mary Washington ($12,584 vs. $14,040)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Mary Washington than James Madison University (98% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Mary Washington students is 99.8% larger than aid received James Madison University ($8,901 vs. $4,456)
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 (86.3%) than JMU (76.2%)
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/