Ohio State vs. JMU

Deciding between Ohio State University Main Campus 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.

Ohio State University Main Campus
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Ohio State Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ohio State #135
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ohio State -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ohio State
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ohio State 70%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ohio State 1400
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ohio State 30
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ohio State A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ohio State Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ohio State Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ohio State Required
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ohio State 80%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ohio State 63%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ohio State $222
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ohio State 48%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Ohio State 52%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ohio State Medium
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Ohio State No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Ohio State 71%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Ohio State 6%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Ohio State 6%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ohio State 4%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Ohio State 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ohio State 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ohio State 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Ohio State 7%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ohio State 3%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ohio State 64%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ohio State 28%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio State University Main Campus is located in Columbus, OH (Large City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Ohio State vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohio State 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 Ohio State ($18,856 vs. $19,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 11.4% lower than at Ohio State University Main Campus ($13,056 vs. $14,738).
  • James Madison University is 7.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $1,006 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26.6% higher at Ohio State than at James Madison University (about $8,418 more per year; $40,022.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at James Madison University (70% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students is 8.6% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($13,151 vs. $12,114).

Ohio State vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ohio State 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 Ohio State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 140 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ohio State - Required; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Ohio State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Ohio State vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Ohio State vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ohio State 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 Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $9,700 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $601 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($20,899 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($216 vs. $222).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 63%)

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.