Lehigh vs. JMU

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

 Lehigh JMU
Location Bethlehem, PA Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 7,394 22,224
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #54 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lehigh.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Lehigh JMU
Tuition (In State) $58,970 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $58,970 $24,744
Room & Board $15,890 $12,040
Avg Net Price $30,453 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $44,116 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 55% 33%

Admission

 Lehigh JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,163 30,727
Admitted 5,607 24,062
Acceptance Rate 37% 78.3%
Enrolled % 26.9% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.57
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 30/33 23/29
SAT Range 1340/1490 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 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 Lehigh JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Biology (5%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

 Lehigh JMU
Graduation Rate 87% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $89,200 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,256 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $250 $216

Diversity

 Lehigh JMU
% Men 54% 42%
% Women 46% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 66% 76%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 9% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 8% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

 Lehigh JMU
% In-State 21% 73%
% Out-of-State 71% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • James Madison University is larger than than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 7,394 students)

Lehigh vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lehigh or JMU?

  • Lehigh University is 667.4% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($58,970.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 138.3% higher at Lehigh than James Madison University ($58,970.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Lehigh ($18,274 vs. $30,453)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 32% lower than costs at Lehigh University ($12,040 vs. $15,890)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lehigh University than James Madison University (55% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 337.6% larger than aid received James Madison University ($44,116 vs. $10,081)

Lehigh vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Lehigh University (1338) is 204 points higher than at JMU (1134)
  • Incoming Lehigh students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at JMU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at JMU (3.57)
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than Lehigh (37%)

Lehigh vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lehigh 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 Lehigh.

  • The graduation rate at Lehigh is higher than James Madison University (87% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn on average $28,900 more per year than JMU graduates after ten years. ($89,200 vs. $60,300)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $3,357 lower median federal student loan debt than Lehigh graduates. ($20,899 vs. $24,256)
  • JMU graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Lehigh graduates. ($216 vs. $250)
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former JMU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 83%)

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