JMU vs. VCU

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

 JMU VCU
Location Harrisonburg, VA Richmond, VA
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 22,224 28,082
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #260 #442
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website jmu.edu vcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 JMU VCU
Tuition (In State) $7,684 $12,458
Tuition (Out of State) $24,744 $33,726
Room & Board $12,040 $12,279
Avg Net Price $18,274 $21,294
Avg Grant Aid $10,081 $12,583
% Receiving Grant Aid 33% 83%

Admission

 JMU VCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 30,727 18,242
Admitted 24,062 16,600
Acceptance Rate 78.3% 91%
Enrolled % 20.2% 25.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.57 3.75
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 22/30
SAT Range 1140/1320 1030/1290
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 Jan 18, 2025

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 JMU VCU
% Men 42% 36%
% Women 58% 64%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 76% 50%
% Black 4% 18%
% Hispanic 6% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 6%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

 JMU VCU
% In-State 73% 92%
% Out-of-State 26% 6%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (28,082 students vs. 22,224 students)

JMU vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, JMU or VCU?

  • Virginia Commonwealth University is 62.1% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($12,458.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.3% higher at VCU than James Madison University ($33,726.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than VCU ($18,274 vs. $21,294)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 2% lower than costs at Virginia Commonwealth University ($12,040 vs. $12,279)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia Commonwealth University than James Madison University (83% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 24.8% larger than aid received James Madison University ($12,583 vs. $10,081)

JMU vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 37 points higher than at VCU (1097)
  • Incoming JMU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at VCU (24)
  • 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 (91%) than JMU (78.3%)

JMU vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, JMU or VCU? 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 VCU and JMU.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Virginia Commonwealth University (81% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $12,800 more per year than VCU graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $47,500)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $2,351 lower median federal student loan debt than VCU graduates. ($20,899 vs. $23,250)
  • JMU graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans 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/