Penn State vs. JMU

Deciding between Penn State 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.

Penn State Main Campus
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Penn State Small City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn State 50,737
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Penn State #185
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Penn State -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Penn State
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Penn State $20,644
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Penn State $41,790
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Penn State $14,474
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Penn State $27,889
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Penn State $11,336
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Penn State 37%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Penn State 88,478
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Penn State 53,579
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn State 1330
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn State 29
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Penn State -
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Penn State -
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Penn State Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Penn State Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Penn State 27/32
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Penn State Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Penn State
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Penn State 87%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Penn State $55,300
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Penn State 69%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Penn State $26,818
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Penn State $277
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Penn State 52%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Penn State 48%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Penn State Medium
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Penn State No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Penn State 69%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Penn State 6%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Penn State 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Penn State 6%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Penn State 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Penn State 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Penn State 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Penn State 11%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Penn State 2%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Penn State 53%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Penn State 40%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Main Campus is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Penn State Main Campus is located in University Park, PA (Small City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Penn State 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: Penn State Main Campus 16:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Penn State vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn 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 Penn State ($18,856 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 9.8% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,056 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 44.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $6,394 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 32.2% higher at Penn State than at James Madison University (about $10,186 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Main Campus than at James Madison University (37% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 6.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($12,114 vs. $11,336).

Penn State vs. JMU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 70 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 27/32; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at Penn State vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Penn State vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than James Madison University's (81%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $5,919 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($20,899 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $61 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($216 vs. $277).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 69%)

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.