Lafayette College vs. JMU

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

Lafayette College JMU
Location Easton, PA Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 2,729 22,224
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #65 #260
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lafayette.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Lafayette College JMU
Tuition (In State) $58,110 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $58,110 $24,744
Room & Board $17,336 $12,040
Avg Net Price $37,186 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $24,981 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 33%

Admission

Lafayette College JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,500 30,727
Admitted 3,531 24,062
Acceptance Rate 33.6% 78.3%
Enrolled % 21.4% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 30/33 23/29
SAT Range 1330/1480 1140/1320
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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

Lafayette College JMU
% Men 50% 42%
% Women 50% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 76%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 6% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 9% 2%
% Unknown Race 7% 3%

Students

Lafayette College JMU
% In-State 16% 73%
% Out-of-State 76% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • James Madison University is larger than than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 2,729 students)

Lafayette College vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lafayette College or JMU?

  • Lafayette College is 656.2% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($58,110.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 134.8% higher at Lafayette College than James Madison University ($58,110.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Lafayette College ($18,274 vs. $37,186)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 44% lower than costs at Lafayette College ($12,040 vs. $17,336)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lafayette College than James Madison University (98% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 147.8% larger than aid received James Madison University ($24,981 vs. $10,081)

Lafayette College vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Lafayette College (1294) is 160 points higher than at JMU (1134)
  • Incoming Lafayette College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at JMU (25)
  • 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 (78.3%) than Lafayette College (33.6%)

Lafayette College vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lafayette College or JMU? 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 JMU and Lafayette College.

  • The graduation rate at Lafayette College is higher than James Madison University (88% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from Lafayette College earn on average $20,700 more per year than JMU graduates after ten years. ($81,000 vs. $60,300)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $5,101 lower median federal student loan debt than Lafayette College graduates. ($20,899 vs. $26,000)
  • JMU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans 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/