JMU vs. VWC

Deciding between James Madison University and Virginia Wesleyan 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 Wesleyan University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • VWC Virginia Beach, VA
  • Setting
  • JMU Small City
  • VWC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • JMU 22,740
  • VWC 1,853
  • Type
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • VWC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • JMU #246
  • VWC #684
  • Religious Affiliation
  • JMU -
  • VWC United Methodist
  • Status
  • JMU Non-profit
  • VWC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • JMU
  • VWC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • JMU $14,250
  • VWC $37,500
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • JMU $31,604
  • VWC $37,500
  • Room & Board
  • JMU $13,056
  • VWC $11,930
  • Average Net Price
  • JMU $18,856
  • VWC $21,267
  • Average Grant Aid
  • JMU $12,114
  • VWC $29,923
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • JMU 33%
  • VWC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • JMU 38,428
  • VWC 3,808
  • Admitted
  • JMU 27,482
  • VWC 2,775
  • Acceptance Rate
  • JMU 71.5%
  • VWC 72.9%
  • Enrolled
  • JMU 18.2%
  • VWC 11.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • JMU 1260
  • VWC 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • JMU 26
  • VWC 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • JMU 3.57
  • VWC 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • JMU A-
  • VWC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • JMU Difficult
  • VWC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • JMU Low
  • VWC Low
  • ACT Range
  • JMU 24/29
  • VWC 28/29
  • SAT Range
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • VWC 1140/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • JMU Test optional
  • VWC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027
  • VWC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • JMU 17:1
  • VWC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • VWC
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • JMU 81%
  • VWC 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • JMU $60,300
  • VWC $41,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • JMU 83%
  • VWC 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • JMU $20,899
  • VWC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • JMU $216
  • VWC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • JMU 43%
  • VWC 47%
  • % Women
  • JMU 57%
  • VWC 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • JMU Low
  • VWC High
  • HBCU
  • JMU No
  • VWC No
  • % White
  • JMU 76%
  • VWC 54%
  • % Asian
  • JMU 4%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Black
  • JMU 4%
  • VWC 24%
  • % Hispanic
  • JMU 6%
  • VWC 8%
  • % Native American
  • JMU 0%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • JMU 0%
  • VWC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • JMU 4%
  • VWC 5%
  • % International
  • JMU 2%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • JMU 3%
  • VWC 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • JMU 69%
  • VWC 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • JMU 30%
  • VWC 25%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

James Madison University is larger than VWC based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 1,853 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting); Virginia Wesleyan University is in Virginia Beach, VA (Large City setting).
  • James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: James Madison University 17:1; Virginia Wesleyan University 15:1.

JMU vs. VWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, JMU or VWC? 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 VWC ($18,856 vs. $21,267).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Wesleyan University are 8.6% lower than at James Madison University ($11,930 vs. $13,056).
  • Virginia Wesleyan University is 163.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $23,250 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18.7% higher at VWC than at James Madison University (about $5,896 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Wesleyan University than at James Madison University (100% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Wesleyan University students is 147% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($29,923 vs. $12,114).

JMU vs. VWC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 10 points higher than at VWC (1250).
  • Incoming VWC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: James Madison University 1170/1340; Virginia Wesleyan University 1140/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: James Madison University 24/29; Virginia Wesleyan University 28/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: JMU - Test optional; VWC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at VWC (3.39).
  • VWC has a higher acceptance rate (72.9%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at JMU vs. 11.9% at VWC.

JMU vs. VWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for JMU and VWC? 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 Wesleyan University's (48%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $18,600 more per year than VWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $6,101 lower median loan debt than VWC graduates ($20,899 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $63 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VWC graduates ($216 vs. $279).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VWC students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 57%)

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.