Lehigh vs. JMU

Deciding between Lehigh 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.

Lehigh University
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Lehigh Small City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Lehigh #53
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Lehigh -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Lehigh
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Lehigh 65%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Lehigh 1440
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Lehigh 32
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Lehigh A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Lehigh High
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Lehigh 52%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Lehigh 48%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Lehigh Medium
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Lehigh No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Lehigh 66%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Lehigh 9%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Lehigh 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Lehigh 9%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Lehigh 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Lehigh 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Lehigh 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Lehigh 8%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Lehigh 3%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Lehigh 25%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Lehigh 69%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Lehigh University in Bethlehem, 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 Lehigh based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Lehigh vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lehigh 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 Lehigh ($18,856 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 24.2% lower than at Lehigh University ($13,056 vs. $17,220).
  • Lehigh University is 356% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $50,730 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 105.6% higher at Lehigh than at James Madison University (about $33,376 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lehigh University than at James Madison University (65% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 285.8% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($46,731 vs. $12,114).

Lehigh vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lehigh 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 Lehigh.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 180 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Lehigh 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: Lehigh University 1370/1500; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lehigh University 31/34; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lehigh - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lehigh Jan 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (71.5%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.4% at Lehigh vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Lehigh vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lehigh 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).

  • Lehigh University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than James Madison University's (81%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $28,900 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $3,357 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($20,899 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.