Miami vs. JMU

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

Miami JMU
Location Oxford, OH Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 19,107 22,224
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #281 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website muohio.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Miami JMU
Tuition (In State) $14,342 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $35,371 $24,744
Room & Board $15,824 $12,040
Avg Net Price $23,031 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $14,752 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 33%

Admission

Miami JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 30,367 30,727
Admitted 26,699 24,062
Acceptance Rate 87.9% 78.3%
Enrolled % 15.1% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.85 3.57
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/30 23/29
SAT Range 1200/1390 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 Feb 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Miami JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

Miami JMU
Graduation Rate 81% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,300 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,750 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $255 $216

Diversity

Miami JMU
% Men 46% 42%
% Women 54% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 76%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 10% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

Miami JMU
% In-State 62% 73%
% Out-of-State 36% 26%

Campus

Miami 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 Miami based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 19,107 students)

Miami vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Miami or JMU?

  • Miami University is 86.6% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($14,342.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 42.9% higher at Miami than James Madison University ($35,371.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Miami ($18,274 vs. $23,031)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 31.4% lower than costs at Miami University ($12,040 vs. $15,824)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Miami University than James Madison University (92% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Miami University students is 46.3% larger than aid received James Madison University ($14,752 vs. $10,081)

Miami vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Miami University (1259) is 125 points higher than at JMU (1134)
  • Incoming Miami students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at JMU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Miami students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at JMU (3.57)
  • Miami has a higher acceptance rate (87.9%) than JMU (78.3%)

Miami vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Miami 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 Miami.

  • The graduation rate at Miami is the same as at James Madison University (81% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $6,000 more per year than Miami graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $54,300)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $3,851 lower median federal student loan debt than Miami graduates. ($20,899 vs. $24,750)
  • JMU graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than Miami graduates. ($216 vs. $255)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Miami students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 57%)

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