JMU vs. WVU

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

JMU WVU
Location Harrisonburg, VA Morgantown, WV
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 22,224 24,741
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #260 #559
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website jmu.edu wvu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

JMU WVU
Tuition (In State) $7,684 $9,360
Tuition (Out of State) $24,744 $26,568
Room & Board $12,040 $11,618
Avg Net Price $18,274 $12,202
Avg Grant Aid $10,081 $11,685
% Receiving Grant Aid 33% 94%

Admission

JMU WVU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 30,727 18,206
Admitted 24,062 16,091
Acceptance Rate 78.3% 88.4%
Enrolled % 20.2% 28.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.57 3.45
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 20/26
SAT Range 1140/1320 1000/1220
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

Academics

JMU WVU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)

Outcomes

JMU WVU
Graduation Rate 81% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,300 $50,600
Making Student Loan Payments 83% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,899 $24,001
Median Loan Payment $216 $248

Diversity

JMU WVU
% Men 42% 47%
% Women 58% 53%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 81%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

JMU WVU
% In-State 73% 42%
% Out-of-State 26% 57%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • West Virginia University is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (24,741 students vs. 22,224 students)

JMU vs. WVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, JMU or WVU?

  • West Virginia University is 21.8% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($9,360.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.4% higher at WVU than James Madison University ($26,568.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Virginia University than JMU ($12,202 vs. $18,274)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Virginia University are 3.6% lower than costs at James Madison University ($11,618 vs. $12,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at West Virginia University than James Madison University (94% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by West Virginia University students is 15.9% larger than aid received James Madison University ($11,685 vs. $10,081)

JMU vs. WVU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 56 points higher than at WVU (1078)
  • Incoming JMU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WVU (24)
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at WVU (3.45)
  • WVU has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than JMU (78.3%)

JMU vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than West Virginia University (81% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $9,700 more per year than WVU graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $50,600)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $3,102 lower median federal student loan debt than WVU graduates. ($20,899 vs. $24,001)
  • JMU graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than WVU graduates. ($216 vs. $248)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WVU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/