LSU vs. JMU

Deciding between Louisiana State 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.

Louisiana State University
James Madison University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • LSU Baton Rouge, LA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • LSU Rural Fringe
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • LSU 41,705
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • LSU Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • LSU #350
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • LSU -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • LSU Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • LSU
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • LSU $11,954
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • LSU $28,631
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • LSU $15,142
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • LSU $21,430
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • LSU $14,094
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • LSU 88%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • LSU 47,065
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • LSU 34,513
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • LSU 73.3%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • LSU 23%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • LSU 1260
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • LSU 27
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • LSU 3.77
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • LSU A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • LSU Difficult
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • LSU Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • LSU 24/30
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • LSU 1180/1340
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • LSU Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • LSU Jul 15, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • LSU 21:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • LSU
    • Business (18%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • LSU 60%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • LSU $56,900
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • LSU 67%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • LSU $20,900
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • LSU $216
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • LSU 42%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • LSU 58%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • LSU Medium
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • LSU No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • LSU 73%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • LSU 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • LSU 12%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • LSU 6%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • LSU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • LSU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • LSU 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • LSU 2%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • LSU 0%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • LSU 60%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • LSU 39%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Louisiana State University is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (41,705 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Louisiana State University is located in Baton Rouge, LA (Rural Fringe setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Louisiana State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Louisiana State University 21:1; James Madison University 17:1.

LSU vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LSU 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 LSU ($18,856 vs. $21,430).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 13.8% lower than at Louisiana State University ($13,056 vs. $15,142).
  • James Madison University is 19.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than LSU (about $2,296 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $11,954.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.4% higher at JMU than at Louisiana State University (about $2,973 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $28,631.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Louisiana State University than at James Madison University (88% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Louisiana State University students is 16.3% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($14,094 vs. $12,114).

LSU vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LSU 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 LSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Louisiana State University (1260) is the same as at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming LSU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Louisiana State University 1180/1340; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Louisiana State University 24/30; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LSU - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: LSU Jul 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman LSU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • LSU has a higher acceptance rate (73.3%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23% at LSU vs. 18.2% at JMU.

LSU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LSU 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).

  • James Madison University's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Louisiana State University's (60%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $3,400 more per year than LSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $56,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $1 lower median loan debt than LSU graduates ($20,899 vs. $20,900).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, James Madison University and LSU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.