San Diego State vs. JMU

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

San Diego State JMU
Location San Diego, CA Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 37,402 22,224
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #337 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sdsu.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

San Diego State JMU
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $24,744
Room & Board $19,714 $12,040
Avg Net Price $13,017 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $9,934 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 43% 33%

Admission

San Diego State JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 77,250 30,727
Admitted 30,331 24,062
Acceptance Rate 39.3% 78.3%
Enrolled % 21.7% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.82 3.57
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 22/29 23/29
SAT Range 1090/1300 1140/1320
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2024 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

San Diego State JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 25:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

San Diego State JMU
Graduation Rate 66% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,400 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $15,349 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $158 $216

Diversity

San Diego State JMU
% Men 42% 42%
% Women 58% 58%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 34% 76%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 31% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 4%
% International 6% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 3%

Students

San Diego State JMU
% In-State 77% 73%
% Out-of-State 21% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • San Diego State University is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (37,402 students vs. 22,224 students)

San Diego State vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego State or JMU?

  • James Madison University is 33.8% more expensive to attend than San Diego State for in-state tuition ($7,684.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.4% higher at JMU than San Diego State University ($24,744.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at San Diego State University than JMU ($13,017 vs. $18,274)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 63.7% lower than costs at San Diego State University ($12,040 vs. $19,714)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at San Diego State University than James Madison University (43% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 1.5% larger than aid received San Diego State University ($10,081 vs. $9,934)

San Diego State vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 4 points higher than at San Diego State (1130)
  • Incoming San Diego State students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at JMU (25)
  • Accepted freshman San Diego State students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at JMU (3.57)
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than San Diego State (39.3%)

San Diego State vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, San Diego State 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 San Diego State.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than San Diego State University (81% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $6,900 more per year than San Diego State graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $53,400)
  • San Diego State University students graduate with a $5,550 lower median federal student loan debt than JMU graduates. ($15,349 vs. $20,899)
  • San Diego State graduates are paying $58 less per month on federal student loans than JMU graduates. ($158 vs. $216)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego State students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 65%)

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