MSU vs. JMU

Deciding between Montana 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.

Montana State University
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MSU Bozeman, MT
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • MSU Remote Town
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • MSU 17,135
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • MSU Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MSU #620
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MSU -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • MSU Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MSU
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MSU $8,460
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MSU $33,287
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • MSU $14,000
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • MSU $20,142
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MSU $11,763
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MSU 83%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MSU 21,652
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • MSU 17,786
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MSU 82.1%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • MSU 20.3%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MSU 1180
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • MSU 24
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • MSU 3.5
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MSU A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MSU Average
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • MSU
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • MSU 21/27
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • MSU 1065/1285
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MSU Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MSU
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MSU 18:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MSU
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MSU 51%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MSU $45,800
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MSU 71%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MSU $24,000
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MSU $248
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MSU 52%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • MSU 48%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MSU Very Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • MSU No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • MSU 86%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • MSU 1%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • MSU 1%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • MSU 4%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • MSU 2%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MSU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MSU 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • MSU 3%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MSU 1%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MSU 39%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MSU 61%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Montana State University in Bozeman, MT 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 MSU based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 17,135 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Montana State University is located in Bozeman, MT (Remote Town setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Montana 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: Montana State University 18:1; James Madison University 17:1.

MSU vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU 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 MSU ($18,856 vs. $20,142).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 6.7% lower than at Montana State University ($13,056 vs. $14,000).
  • James Madison University is 68.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than MSU (about $5,790 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $8,460.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.3% higher at MSU than at James Madison University (about $1,683 more per year; $33,287.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Montana State University than at James Madison University (83% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 3% larger than aid received by Montana State University students ($12,114 vs. $11,763).

MSU vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MSU 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 MSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 80 points higher than at MSU (1180).
  • Incoming JMU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at MSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Montana State University 1065/1285; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Montana State University 21/27; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MSU - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at MSU (3.5).
  • MSU has a higher acceptance rate (82.1%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.3% at MSU vs. 18.2% at JMU.

MSU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MSU 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 Montana State University's (51%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $14,500 more per year than MSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $45,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $3,101 lower median loan debt than MSU graduates ($20,899 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MSU graduates ($216 vs. $248).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 71%)

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.