Meredith vs. JMU

Deciding between Meredith College 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.

Meredith College
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Meredith Raleigh, NC
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Meredith Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Meredith 1,465
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Meredith Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Meredith #368
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Meredith -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Meredith Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Meredith
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Meredith $45,630
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Meredith $45,630
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Meredith $13,280
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Meredith $24,323
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Meredith $33,116
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Meredith 100%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Meredith 1,983
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Meredith 1,471
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Meredith 74.2%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Meredith 18.5%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Meredith 1220
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Meredith 26
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Meredith 3.52
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Meredith A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Meredith Difficult
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Meredith Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Meredith 23/29
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Meredith 1098/1348
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Meredith Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Meredith Feb 15, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Meredith 10:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Meredith
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Work and Family Studies (10%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Meredith 59%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Meredith $40,000
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Meredith 65%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Meredith $26,000
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Meredith $268
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Meredith 2%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Meredith 98%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Meredith Medium
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Meredith No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Meredith 71%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Meredith 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Meredith 10%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Meredith 3%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Meredith 1%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Meredith 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Meredith 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Meredith 5%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Meredith 2%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Meredith 82%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Meredith 18%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Meredith College in Raleigh, NC 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 Meredith based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 1,465 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Meredith vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Meredith 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 Meredith ($18,856 vs. $24,323).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 1.7% lower than at Meredith College ($13,056 vs. $13,280).
  • Meredith College is 220.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $31,380 more per year; $45,630.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 44.4% higher at Meredith than at James Madison University (about $14,026 more per year; $45,630.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Meredith College than at James Madison University (100% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Meredith College students is 173.4% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($33,116 vs. $12,114).

Meredith vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Meredith 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 Meredith.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 40 points higher than at Meredith (1220).
  • Incoming Meredith students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 26) as students at JMU (26).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Meredith College 1098/1348; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Meredith College 23/29; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Meredith - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Meredith Feb 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Meredith (3.52).
  • Meredith has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.5% at Meredith vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Meredith vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Meredith 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 Meredith College's (59%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $20,300 more per year than Meredith graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $5,101 lower median loan debt than Meredith graduates ($20,899 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Meredith graduates ($216 vs. $268).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Meredith students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 65%)

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.