JMU vs. VMI

Deciding between James Madison University and Virginia Military Institute? 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 Military Institute

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • VMI Lexington, VA
  • Setting
  • JMU Small City
  • VMI Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • JMU 22,740
  • VMI 1,527
  • Type
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • VMI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • JMU #246
  • VMI #123
  • Religious Affiliation
  • JMU -
  • VMI -
  • Status
  • JMU Non-profit
  • VMI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • JMU
  • VMI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • JMU $14,250
  • VMI $21,046
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • JMU $31,604
  • VMI $52,638
  • Room & Board
  • JMU $13,056
  • VMI $11,310
  • Average Net Price
  • JMU $18,856
  • VMI $18,825
  • Average Grant Aid
  • JMU $12,114
  • VMI $23,821
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • JMU 33%
  • VMI 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • JMU 38,428
  • VMI 2,066
  • Admitted
  • JMU 27,482
  • VMI 1,472
  • Acceptance Rate
  • JMU 71.5%
  • VMI 71.2%
  • Enrolled
  • JMU 18.2%
  • VMI 31.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • JMU 1260
  • VMI 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • JMU 26
  • VMI 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • JMU 3.57
  • VMI 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • JMU A-
  • VMI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • JMU Difficult
  • VMI Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • JMU Low
  • VMI Low
  • ACT Range
  • JMU 24/29
  • VMI 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • VMI 1050/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • JMU Test optional
  • VMI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027
  • VMI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • JMU 17:1
  • VMI 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • VMI
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • History (14%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • JMU 81%
  • VMI 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • JMU $60,300
  • VMI $62,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • JMU 83%
  • VMI 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • JMU $20,899
  • VMI $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • JMU $216
  • VMI $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • JMU 43%
  • VMI 86%
  • % Women
  • JMU 57%
  • VMI 14%
  • Racial Diversity
  • JMU Low
  • VMI Low
  • HBCU
  • JMU No
  • VMI No
  • % White
  • JMU 76%
  • VMI 80%
  • % Asian
  • JMU 4%
  • VMI 4%
  • % Black
  • JMU 4%
  • VMI 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • JMU 6%
  • VMI 5%
  • % Native American
  • JMU 0%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • JMU 0%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • JMU 4%
  • VMI 2%
  • % International
  • JMU 2%
  • VMI 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • JMU 3%
  • VMI 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • JMU 69%
  • VMI 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • JMU 30%
  • VMI 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

James Madison University is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
  • James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: James Madison University 17:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

JMU vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, JMU or VMI? 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 Virginia Military Institute than JMU ($18,825 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 13.4% lower than at James Madison University ($11,310 vs. $13,056).
  • Virginia Military Institute is 47.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $6,796 more per year; $21,046.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 66.6% higher at VMI than at James Madison University (about $21,034 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Military Institute than at James Madison University (81% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 96.6% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($23,821 vs. $12,114).

JMU vs. VMI Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 100 points higher than at VMI (1160).
  • Incoming VMI students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: James Madison University 1170/1340; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: James Madison University 24/29; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: JMU - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027; VMI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than VMI (71.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at JMU vs. 31.7% at VMI.

JMU vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for JMU and VMI? 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 Military Institute's (69%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $4,101 lower median loan debt than VMI graduates ($20,899 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VMI graduates ($216 vs. $258).
  • More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former JMU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 83%)

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.