Miami vs. JMU

Deciding between Miami University Oxford 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.

Miami University Oxford
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Miami Oxford, OH
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Miami Distant Town
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Miami 18,838
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Miami Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Miami #280
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Miami -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Miami Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Miami
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Miami $18,161
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Miami $41,221
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Miami $16,750
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Miami $28,229
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Miami $13,937
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Miami 93%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Miami 39,580
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Miami 29,843
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Miami 75.4%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Miami 14%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Miami 1310
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Miami 27
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Miami 3.85
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Miami A
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Miami Difficult
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Miami
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Miami 25/30
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Miami 1220/1390
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Miami Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Miami Feb 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Miami 46%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Miami 54%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Miami Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Miami No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Miami 77%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Miami 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Miami 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Miami 4%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Miami 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Miami 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Miami 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Miami 10%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Miami 0%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Miami 64%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Miami 35%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Miami University Oxford in Oxford, OH 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 Miami based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 18,838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Miami University Oxford is located in Oxford, OH (Distant Town setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Miami University Oxford is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Miami University Oxford 16:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Miami vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Miami 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 Miami ($18,856 vs. $28,229).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 22.1% lower than at Miami University Oxford ($13,056 vs. $16,750).
  • Miami University Oxford is 27.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $3,911 more per year; $18,161.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.4% higher at Miami than at James Madison University (about $9,617 more per year; $41,221.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Miami University Oxford than at James Madison University (93% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Miami University Oxford students is 15% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($13,937 vs. $12,114).

Miami vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Miami 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 Miami.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Miami University Oxford (1310) is 50 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Miami 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: Miami University Oxford 1220/1390; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Miami University Oxford 25/30; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Miami - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Miami Feb 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (75.4%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at Miami vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Miami vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Miami 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).

  • The graduation rate at Miami is the same as at James Madison University (81% vs. 81%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than Miami graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $54,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $3,851 lower median loan debt than Miami graduates ($20,899 vs. $24,750).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.