JCU vs. JMU

Deciding between John Carroll University and James Madison 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.

John Carroll University
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • JCU University Heights, OH
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • JCU Large Suburban
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • JCU 2,864
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • JCU Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • JCU #222
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • JCU Roman Catholic
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • JCU Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • JCU
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • JCU $50,500
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • JCU $50,500
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • JCU $14,520
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • JCU $30,030
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • JCU $35,785
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • JCU 100%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • JCU 4,623
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • JCU 3,740
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • JCU 80.9%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • JCU 15.9%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • JCU 1260
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • JCU 28
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • JCU 3.66
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • JCU A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • JCU Difficult
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • JCU
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • JCU 25/32
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • JCU 1180/1330
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • JCU Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • JCU
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • JCU 13:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • JCU
    • Business (34%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Education (9%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • JCU 71%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • JCU $57,600
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • JCU 74%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • JCU $26,939
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • JCU $278
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • JCU 51%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • JCU 49%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • JCU Very Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • JCU No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • JCU 86%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • JCU 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • JCU 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • JCU 3%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • JCU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • JCU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • JCU 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • JCU 2%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • JCU 1%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • JCU 69%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • JCU 31%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare John Carroll University in University Heights, OH with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

James Madison University is larger than JCU based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 2,864 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • John Carroll University is located in University Heights, OH (Large Suburban setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • John Carroll University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: John Carroll University 13:1; James Madison University 17:1.

JCU vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, JCU or JMU? 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 JCU ($18,856 vs. $30,030).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 10.1% lower than at John Carroll University ($13,056 vs. $14,520).
  • John Carroll University is 254.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $36,250 more per year; $50,500.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 59.8% higher at JCU than at James Madison University (about $18,896 more per year; $50,500.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at John Carroll University than at James Madison University (100% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by John Carroll University students is 195.4% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($35,785 vs. $12,114).

JCU vs. JMU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at John Carroll University (1260) is the same as at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming JCU 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: John Carroll University 1180/1330; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: John Carroll University 25/32; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: JCU - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman JCU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JCU has a higher acceptance rate (80.9%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.9% at JCU vs. 18.2% at JMU.

JCU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for JCU and JMU? 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 John Carroll University's (71%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than JCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $57,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $6,040 lower median loan debt than JCU graduates ($20,899 vs. $26,939).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JCU graduates ($216 vs. $278).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former JCU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 74%)

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.