RIT vs. JMU

Should I go to Rochester Institute of Technology or James Madison University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if RIT 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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Rochester Institute of Technology vs. James Madison University comparison
Rochester Institute of Technology James Madison University College 3 College 4
Rochester Institute of Technology James Madison University
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Overview

 RIT JMU
Location Rochester, NY Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 16,615 22,224
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #172 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rit.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 RIT JMU
Tuition (In State) $53,720 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $53,720 $24,744
Room & Board $14,978 $12,040
Avg Net Price $39,600 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $29,122 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 33%

Admission

 RIT JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 23,976 30,727
Admitted 16,105 24,062
Acceptance Rate 67.2% 78.3%
Enrolled % 19.9% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.57
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/33 23/29
SAT Range 1270/1450 1140/1320
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 Jan 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 RIT JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Engineering Technology (11%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

 RIT JMU
Graduation Rate 64% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,900 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $28,000 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $289 $216

Diversity

 RIT JMU
% Men 65% 42%
% Women 35% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 66% 76%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 6% 2%
% Unknown Race 5% 3%

Students

 RIT JMU
% In-State 47% 73%
% Out-of-State 49% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • James Madison University is larger than than RIT based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 16,615 students)

RIT vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIT or JMU?

  • Rochester Institute of Technology is 599.1% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($53,720.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 117.1% higher at RIT than James Madison University ($53,720.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than RIT ($18,274 vs. $39,600)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 24.4% lower than costs at Rochester Institute of Technology ($12,040 vs. $14,978)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than James Madison University (97% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students is 188.9% larger than aid received James Madison University ($29,122 vs. $10,081)

RIT vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rochester Institute of Technology (1251) is 117 points higher than at JMU (1134)
  • Incoming RIT students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at JMU (25)
  • Accepted freshman RIT students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at JMU (3.57)
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than RIT (67.2%)

RIT vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, RIT 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 RIT .

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Rochester Institute of Technology (81% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Rochester Institute of Technology earn on average $4,600 more per year than JMU graduates after ten years. ($64,900 vs. $60,300)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $7,101 lower median federal student loan debt than RIT graduates. ($20,899 vs. $28,000)
  • JMU graduates are paying $73 less per month on federal student loans than RIT graduates. ($216 vs. $289)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 75%)

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