Lafayette College vs. JMU

Deciding between Lafayette College 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.

Lafayette College
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Lafayette College Easton, PA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Lafayette College Large Suburban
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Lafayette College 2,775
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Lafayette College Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Lafayette College #69
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Lafayette College Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Lafayette College Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Lafayette College
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Lafayette College $65,398
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Lafayette College $65,398
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Lafayette College $19,866
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Lafayette College $38,442
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Lafayette College $44,707
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Lafayette College 61%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Lafayette College 10,195
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Lafayette College 3,206
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Lafayette College 31.4%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Lafayette College 21.8%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Lafayette College 1430
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Lafayette College 32
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Lafayette College 3.53
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Lafayette College A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Lafayette College Exceptional
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Lafayette College High
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Lafayette College 31/33
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Lafayette College 1350/1500
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Lafayette College Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Lafayette College 10:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Lafayette College
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Lafayette College 88%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Lafayette College $81,000
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Lafayette College 91%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Lafayette College $26,000
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Lafayette College $268
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Lafayette College 50%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Lafayette College 50%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Lafayette College Medium
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Lafayette College No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Lafayette College 67%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Lafayette College 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Lafayette College 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Lafayette College 6%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Lafayette College 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Lafayette College 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Lafayette College 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Lafayette College 9%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Lafayette College 7%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Lafayette College 15%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Lafayette College 78%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Lafayette College in Easton, PA 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 Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 2,775 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Lafayette College is located in Easton, PA (Large Suburban setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Lafayette College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Lafayette College 10:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Lafayette College vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lafayette College 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 Lafayette College ($18,856 vs. $38,442).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 34.3% lower than at Lafayette College ($13,056 vs. $19,866).
  • Lafayette College is 358.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $51,148 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 106.9% higher at Lafayette College than at James Madison University (about $33,794 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lafayette College than at James Madison University (61% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 269.1% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($44,707 vs. $12,114).

Lafayette College vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lafayette College 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 Lafayette College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lafayette College (1430) is 170 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Lafayette College students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lafayette College 1350/1500; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lafayette College 31/33; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lafayette College - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Lafayette College (3.53).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Lafayette College (31.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Lafayette College vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Lafayette College vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lafayette College 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).

  • Lafayette College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than James Madison University's (81%).
  • Graduates from Lafayette College earn a median of about $20,700 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,000 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $5,101 lower median loan debt than Lafayette College graduates ($20,899 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lafayette College graduates ($216 vs. $268).
  • More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former JMU students, three years after graduation. (91% 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.