Ohio University vs. JMU

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

 Ohio University JMU
Location Athens, OH Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 24,937 22,758
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #498 #259
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ohio.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Ohio University JMU
Tuition (In State) $13,746 $7,914
Tuition (Out of State) $24,114 $25,128
Room & Board $13,594 $12,584
Avg Net Price $20,550 $26,317
Avg Grant Aid $8,616 $4,456
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 81%

Admission

 Ohio University JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,648 35,750
Admitted 21,739 27,258
Acceptance Rate 84.8% 76.2%
Enrolled % 21.1% 18.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/28 25/29
SAT Range 1100/1290 1170/1320
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, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

 Ohio University JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

 Ohio University JMU
Graduation Rate 65% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,500 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 51% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $211 $216

Diversity

 Ohio University JMU
% Men 9% 2%
% Women 14% 5%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 76%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 3% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

 Ohio University JMU
% In-State 86% 73%
% Out-of-State 13% 26%

Campus

 Ohio University JMU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Ohio University Main Campus is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (24,937 students vs. 22,758 students)

Ohio University vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohio University or JMU?

  • Ohio University Main Campus is 73.7% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($13,746.00 vs. $7,914.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.2% higher at JMU than Ohio University Main Campus ($25,128.00 vs. $24,114.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ohio University Main Campus than JMU ($20,550 vs. $26,317)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 8% lower than costs at Ohio University Main Campus ($12,584 vs. $13,594)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ohio University Main Campus than James Madison University (93% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio University Main Campus students is 93.4% larger than aid received James Madison University ($8,616 vs. $4,456)

Ohio University vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 26 points higher than at Ohio University (1108)
  • Incoming JMU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Ohio University (24)
  • Accepted freshman Ohio University students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at JMU (3.57)
  • Ohio University has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than JMU (76.2%)

Ohio University vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Ohio University 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 Ohio University.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Ohio University Main Campus (81% vs. 65%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $15,800 more per year than Ohio University graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $44,500)
  • Ohio University Main Campus students graduate with a $399 lower median federal student loan debt than JMU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $20,899)
  • Ohio University graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than JMU graduates. ($211 vs. $216)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio University students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 51%)

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