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Mason Penn State VCU NC State Purdue UVA CNU Clemson UofSC Maryland Old Dominion Mary Washington College| James Madison University | Virginia Tech | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
JMU | Virginia Tech | ||
| Location | Harrisonburg, VA | Blacksburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 22,758 | 38,294 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #259 | #145 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | jmu.edu | vt.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
JMU | Virginia Tech | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,914 | $12,698 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,128 | $33,310 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,584 | $14,888 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,317 | $22,205 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,456 | $8,542 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 81% | 55% |
Admission |
JMU | Virginia Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 35,750 | 47,208 | ||
| Admitted | 27,258 | 26,923 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 76.2% | 57% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.1% | 26.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.57 | 3.97 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/29 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1170/1320 | 1240/1420 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
JMU | Virginia Tech | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
JMU | Virginia Tech | ||
| Graduation Rate | 81% | 82% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $60,300 | $65,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 83% | 81% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,899 | $23,966 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $216 | $247 |
Diversity |
JMU | Virginia Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 11% | ||
| % Women | 5% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 3% |
Students |
JMU | Virginia Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 73% | 61% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 33% | ||
Campus |
JMU | Virginia Tech | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Virginia Tech is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (38,294 students vs. 22,758 students)
JMU vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, JMU or Virginia Tech?
- Virginia Tech is 60.4% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($12,698.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 32.6% higher at Virginia Tech than James Madison University ($33,310.00 vs. $25,128.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Tech than JMU ($22,205 vs. $26,317)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 18.3% lower than costs at Virginia Tech ($12,584 vs. $14,888)
- More students receive financial grant aid at James Madison University than Virginia Tech (81% vs. 55%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Tech students is 91.7% larger than aid received James Madison University ($8,542 vs. $4,456)
JMU vs. Virginia Tech Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, JMU or Virginia Tech? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Virginia Tech or JMU .
- The average SAT score at Virginia Tech (1210) is 76 points higher than at JMU (1134)
- Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at JMU (3.57)
- JMU has a higher acceptance rate (76.2%) than Virginia Tech (57%)
JMU vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, JMU or Virginia Tech? 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 Virginia Tech and JMU.
- The graduation rate at Virginia Tech is higher than James Madison University (82% vs. 81%)
- Graduates from Virginia Tech earn on average $4,700 more per year than JMU graduates after ten years. ($65,000 vs. $60,300)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $3,067 lower median federal student loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates. ($20,899 vs. $23,966)
- JMU graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Virginia Tech graduates. ($216 vs. $247)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Virginia Tech students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 81%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/