St. Mary's vs. JMU

Comparable Facts

Compare St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City, 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 St. Mary's based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 1,630 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• St. Mary's College of Maryland is located in St. Mary's City, MD (Distant Rural setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
• St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: St. Mary's College of Maryland 10:1; James Madison University 17:1.

St. Mary's vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's ($18,856 vs. $21,071).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 18.8% lower than at St. Mary's College of Maryland ($13,056 vs. $16,079).
• St. Mary's College of Maryland is 7.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $1,048 more per year; $15,298.00 vs. $14,250.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at JMU than at St. Mary's College of Maryland (about $230 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $31,374.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at St. Mary's College of Maryland than at James Madison University (98% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 6.3% larger than aid received by St. Mary's College of Maryland students ($12,114 vs. $11,398).

St. Mary's vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 20 points higher than at St. Mary's (1240).
• Incoming St. Mary's students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at JMU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. Mary's College of Maryland 1143/1340; James Madison University 1170/1340.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. Mary's College of Maryland 26/31; James Madison University 24/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St. Mary's - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: St. Mary's Jan 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at St. Mary's (3.45).
• JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than St. Mary's (68.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.3% at St. Mary's vs. 18.2% at JMU.

St. Mary's vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's College of Maryland's (79%).
• Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $8,800 more per year than St. Mary's graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $51,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St. Mary's College of Maryland graduates have a $529 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($20,370 vs. $20,899).
• Among borrowers, St. Mary's graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($210 vs. $216).
• More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Mary's students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 82%)

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.