JMU vs. VCU

Deciding between James Madison University and Virginia Commonwealth University? 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
Virginia Commonwealth University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • VCU Richmond, VA
  • Setting
  • JMU Small City
  • VCU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • JMU 22,740
  • VCU 28,464
  • Type
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • VCU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • JMU #246
  • VCU #465
  • Religious Affiliation
  • JMU -
  • VCU -
  • Status
  • JMU Non-profit
  • VCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • JMU
  • VCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • JMU $14,250
  • VCU $16,945
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • JMU $31,604
  • VCU $40,109
  • Room & Board
  • JMU $13,056
  • VCU $18,254
  • Average Net Price
  • JMU $18,856
  • VCU $26,836
  • Average Grant Aid
  • JMU $12,114
  • VCU $14,186
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • JMU 33%
  • VCU 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • JMU 38,428
  • VCU 20,954
  • Admitted
  • JMU 27,482
  • VCU 19,408
  • Acceptance Rate
  • JMU 71.5%
  • VCU 92.6%
  • Enrolled
  • JMU 18.2%
  • VCU 21.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • JMU 1260
  • VCU 1140
  • Typical ACT score
  • JMU 26
  • VCU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • JMU 3.57
  • VCU 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • JMU A-
  • VCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • JMU Difficult
  • VCU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • JMU Low
  • VCU
  • ACT Range
  • JMU 24/29
  • VCU 22/30
  • SAT Range
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • VCU 1010/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • JMU Test optional
  • VCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027
  • VCU Jan 18, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • JMU 17:1
  • VCU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • VCU
    • Business (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • JMU 81%
  • VCU 53%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • JMU $60,300
  • VCU $47,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • JMU 83%
  • VCU 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • JMU $20,899
  • VCU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • JMU $216
  • VCU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • JMU 43%
  • VCU 36%
  • % Women
  • JMU 57%
  • VCU 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • JMU Low
  • VCU High
  • HBCU
  • JMU No
  • VCU No
  • % White
  • JMU 76%
  • VCU 50%
  • % Asian
  • JMU 4%
  • VCU 13%
  • % Black
  • JMU 4%
  • VCU 18%
  • % Hispanic
  • JMU 6%
  • VCU 8%
  • % Native American
  • JMU 0%
  • VCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • JMU 0%
  • VCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • JMU 4%
  • VCU 6%
  • % International
  • JMU 2%
  • VCU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • JMU 3%
  • VCU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • JMU 69%
  • VCU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • JMU 30%
  • VCU 6%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (28,464 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting); Virginia Commonwealth University is in Richmond, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Commonwealth University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: James Madison University 17:1; Virginia Commonwealth University 17:1.

JMU vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, JMU or VCU? 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 VCU ($18,856 vs. $26,836).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 28.5% lower than at Virginia Commonwealth University ($13,056 vs. $18,254).
  • Virginia Commonwealth University is 18.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $2,695 more per year; $16,945.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26.9% higher at VCU than at James Madison University (about $8,505 more per year; $40,109.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Commonwealth University than at James Madison University (88% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 17.1% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($14,186 vs. $12,114).

JMU vs. VCU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 120 points higher than at VCU (1140).
  • Incoming JMU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 26) as students at VCU (26).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: James Madison University 1170/1340; Virginia Commonwealth University 1010/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: James Madison University 24/29; Virginia Commonwealth University 22/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: JMU - Test optional; VCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027; VCU Jan 18, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • VCU has a higher acceptance rate (92.6%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at JMU vs. 21.6% at VCU.

JMU vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for JMU and VCU? 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).

  • James Madison University's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Virginia Commonwealth University's (53%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $12,800 more per year than VCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $47,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $2,351 lower median loan debt than VCU graduates ($20,899 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VCU graduates ($216 vs. $240).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 56%)

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.