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Mason Virginia Tech VCU UVA CNU Alabama UL Lafayette Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD Florida State| Louisiana State University | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
LSU | JMU | ||
| Location | Baton Rouge, LA | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 39,418 | 22,758 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #287 | #259 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | lsu.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
LSU | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,038 | $7,914 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $8,038 | $25,128 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,296 | $12,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,808 | $26,317 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $13,509 | $4,456 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 88% | 81% |
Admission |
LSU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 42,558 | 35,750 | ||
| Admitted | 31,491 | 27,258 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74% | 76.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.9% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.77 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 24/29 | 25/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1150/1330 | 1170/1320 | ||
| 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 | Jul 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
LSU | JMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
LSU | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,900 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 67% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,900 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $216 | $216 |
Diversity |
LSU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 73% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 3% |
Students |
LSU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 61% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 37% | 26% | ||
Campus |
LSU | 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
- Louisiana State University is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (39,418 students vs. 22,758 students)
LSU vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, LSU or JMU?
- Louisiana State University is 1.6% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($8,038.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 212.6% higher at JMU than Louisiana State University ($25,128.00 vs. $8,038.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Louisiana State University than JMU ($21,808 vs. $26,317)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 13.6% lower than costs at Louisiana State University ($12,584 vs. $14,296)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Louisiana State University than James Madison University (88% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Louisiana State University students is 203.2% larger than aid received James Madison University ($13,509 vs. $4,456)
LSU vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, LSU or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or LSU .
- The average SAT score at Louisiana State University (1163) is 29 points higher than at JMU (1134)
- Incoming LSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at JMU (25)
- Accepted freshman LSU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at JMU (3.57)
- JMU has a higher acceptance rate (76.2%) than LSU (74%)
LSU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, LSU 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 LSU.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Louisiana State University (81% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $3,400 more per year than LSU graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $56,900)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $1 lower median federal student loan debt than LSU graduates. ($20,899 vs. $20,900)
- James Madison University and LSU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($216 vs. $216)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LSU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 67%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/