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Mason Virginia Tech VCU UVA CNU Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD Elon ASU Penn State| Ohio Wesleyan University | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
OWU | JMU | ||
| Location | Delaware, OH | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,452 | 22,758 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #369 | #259 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | owu.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
OWU | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $51,771 | $7,914 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $51,771 | $25,128 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,226 | $12,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,826 | $26,317 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $42,496 | $4,456 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 81% |
Admission |
OWU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,708 | 35,750 | ||
| Admitted | 2,892 | 27,258 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 50.7% | 76.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.8% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.54 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/31 | 25/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1105/1350 | 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 | Mar 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
OWU | JMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
OWU | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 61% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,600 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $216 |
Diversity |
OWU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 70% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 6% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 3% |
Students |
OWU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 27% | 26% | ||
Campus |
OWU | JMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- James Madison University is larger than than OWU based on total student enrollment (22,758 students vs. 1,452 students)
OWU vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, OWU or JMU?
- Ohio Wesleyan University is 554.2% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($51,771.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 106% higher at OWU than James Madison University ($51,771.00 vs. $25,128.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ohio Wesleyan University than JMU ($23,826 vs. $26,317)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 13% lower than costs at Ohio Wesleyan University ($12,584 vs. $14,226)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Ohio Wesleyan University than James Madison University (100% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Wesleyan University students is 853.7% larger than aid received James Madison University ($42,496 vs. $4,456)
OWU vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, OWU or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or OWU .
- Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at OWU (3.54)
- JMU has a higher acceptance rate (76.2%) than OWU (50.7%)
OWU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, OWU 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 OWU.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Ohio Wesleyan University (81% vs. 61%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $10,700 more per year than OWU graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $49,600)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $6,101 lower median federal student loan debt than OWU graduates. ($20,899 vs. $27,000)
- JMU graduates are paying $63 less per month on federal student loans than OWU graduates. ($216 vs. $279)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OWU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 80%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/