MVNU vs. JMU

Deciding between Mount Vernon Nazarene 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.

James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • MVNU Mount Vernon, OH
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • MVNU Rural Fringe
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • MVNU 1,671
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • MVNU Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MVNU #556
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MVNU Church of the Nazarene
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • MVNU Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MVNU
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MVNU $37,158
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MVNU $37,158
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • MVNU $10,394
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • MVNU $22,961
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MVNU $26,886
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MVNU 100%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MVNU 1,230
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • MVNU 1,035
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MVNU 84.1%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • MVNU 29.3%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MVNU 1180
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • MVNU 21
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • MVNU 3.55
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MVNU A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MVNU Average
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • MVNU
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • MVNU 18/25
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • MVNU 1046/1315
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MVNU Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MVNU
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MVNU 13:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MVNU
    • Business (44%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Human Services (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MVNU 57%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MVNU $46,100
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MVNU 65%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MVNU $26,536
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MVNU $274
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MVNU 44%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • MVNU 56%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MVNU Very Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • MVNU No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • MVNU 85%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • MVNU 0%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • MVNU 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • MVNU 2%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • MVNU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MVNU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MVNU 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • MVNU 1%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MVNU 5%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MVNU 86%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MVNU 10%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Mount Vernon, 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 MVNU based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 1,671 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Vernon Nazarene University is located in Mount Vernon, OH (Rural Fringe setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Vernon Nazarene University 13:1; James Madison University 17:1.

MVNU vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MVNU 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 MVNU ($18,856 vs. $22,961).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Vernon Nazarene University are 20.4% lower than at James Madison University ($10,394 vs. $13,056).
  • Mount Vernon Nazarene University is 160.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $22,908 more per year; $37,158.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.6% higher at MVNU than at James Madison University (about $5,554 more per year; $37,158.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Vernon Nazarene University than at James Madison University (100% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Vernon Nazarene University students is 121.9% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($26,886 vs. $12,114).

MVNU vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MVNU 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 MVNU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 80 points higher than at MVNU (1180).
  • Incoming JMU students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 21 at MVNU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Vernon Nazarene University 1046/1315; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Vernon Nazarene University 18/25; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MVNU - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at MVNU (3.55).
  • MVNU has a higher acceptance rate (84.1%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.3% at MVNU vs. 18.2% at JMU.

MVNU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MVNU 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 Mount Vernon Nazarene University's (57%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $14,200 more per year than MVNU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $46,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $5,637 lower median loan debt than MVNU graduates ($20,899 vs. $26,536).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MVNU graduates ($216 vs. $274).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MVNU 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.