Salisbury vs. JMU

Deciding between Salisbury University 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.

Salisbury University
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Salisbury Salisbury, MD
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Salisbury Small Suburban
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Salisbury 7,025
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Salisbury Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Salisbury #352
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Salisbury -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Salisbury Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Salisbury
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Salisbury $11,084
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Salisbury $22,174
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Salisbury $13,900
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Salisbury $18,760
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Salisbury $9,124
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Salisbury 88%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Salisbury 8,845
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Salisbury 7,737
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Salisbury 87.5%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Salisbury 18.4%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Salisbury 1250
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Salisbury 24
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Salisbury 3.73
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Salisbury A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Salisbury Challenging
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Salisbury
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Salisbury 20/29
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Salisbury 1180/1320
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Salisbury Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Salisbury Jan 15, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Salisbury 14:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Salisbury
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Salisbury 67%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Salisbury $52,000
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Salisbury 68%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Salisbury $20,153
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Salisbury $208
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Salisbury 42%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Salisbury 58%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Salisbury Medium
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Salisbury No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Salisbury 71%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Salisbury 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Salisbury 13%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Salisbury 4%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Salisbury 1%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Salisbury 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Salisbury 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Salisbury 1%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Salisbury 3%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Salisbury 82%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Salisbury 17%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

James Madison University is larger than Salisbury based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 7,025 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Salisbury University is located in Salisbury, MD (Small Suburban setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Salisbury University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Salisbury University 14:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Salisbury vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salisbury 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 Salisbury University than JMU ($18,760 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 6.1% lower than at Salisbury University ($13,056 vs. $13,900).
  • James Madison University is 28.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Salisbury (about $3,166 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $11,084.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 42.5% higher at JMU than at Salisbury University (about $9,430 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $22,174.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Salisbury University than at James Madison University (88% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 32.8% larger than aid received by Salisbury University students ($12,114 vs. $9,124).

Salisbury vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Salisbury 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 Salisbury.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 10 points higher than at Salisbury (1250).
  • Incoming JMU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at Salisbury).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 1180/1320; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 20/29; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Salisbury - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Salisbury Jan 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Salisbury students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • Salisbury has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at Salisbury vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Salisbury vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Salisbury 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).

  • James Madison University's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Salisbury University's (67%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $8,300 more per year than Salisbury graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $52,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Salisbury University graduates have a $746 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($20,153 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, Salisbury graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($208 vs. $216).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salisbury 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.