Rutgers vs. JMU

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

 Rutgers JMU
Location New Brunswick, NJ Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 50,617 22,758
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #113 #259
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rutgers.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Rutgers JMU
Tuition (In State) $13,674 $7,914
Tuition (Out of State) $32,436 $25,128
Room & Board $14,715 $12,584
Avg Net Price $19,052 $26,317
Avg Grant Aid $16,249 $4,456
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 81%

Admission

 Rutgers JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 43,347 35,750
Admitted 28,326 27,258
Acceptance Rate 65.3% 76.2%
Enrolled % 27.1% 18.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 28/33 25/29
SAT Range 1270/1480 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 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

 Rutgers JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

 Rutgers JMU
Graduation Rate 77% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,200 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,215 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $229 $216

Diversity

 Rutgers JMU
% Men 10% 2%
% Women 18% 5%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 42% 76%
% Black 7% 4%
% Hispanic 13% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 7% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

 Rutgers JMU
% In-State 84% 73%
% Out-of-State 8% 26%

Campus

 Rutgers 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

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (50,617 students vs. 22,758 students)

Rutgers vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or JMU?

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 72.8% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($13,674.00 vs. $7,914.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 29.1% higher at Rutgers than James Madison University ($32,436.00 vs. $25,128.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University New Brunswick than JMU ($19,052 vs. $26,317)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 16.9% lower than costs at Rutgers University New Brunswick ($12,584 vs. $14,715)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at James Madison University than Rutgers University New Brunswick (81% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 264.7% larger than aid received James Madison University ($16,249 vs. $4,456)

Rutgers vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1225) is 91 points higher than at JMU (1134)
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Rutgers (3.3)
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (76.2%) than Rutgers (65.3%)

Rutgers vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick (81% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn on average $5,900 more per year than JMU graduates after ten years. ($66,200 vs. $60,300)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $1,316 lower median federal student loan debt than Rutgers graduates. ($20,899 vs. $22,215)
  • JMU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Rutgers graduates. ($216 vs. $229)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 68%)

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