University at Albany- SUNY vs. JMU

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

 University at Albany- SUNY JMU
Location Albany, NY Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 16,880 22,758
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #242 #259
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website albany.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 University at Albany- SUNY JMU
Tuition (In State) $7,070 $7,914
Tuition (Out of State) $25,660 $25,128
Room & Board $16,182 $12,584
Avg Net Price $19,165 $26,317
Avg Grant Aid $9,747 $4,456
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 81%

Admission

 University at Albany- SUNY JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 30,740 35,750
Admitted 21,477 27,258
Acceptance Rate 69.9% 76.2%
Enrolled % 13.2% 18.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/31 25/29
SAT Range 1120/1320 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 Feb 1, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

 University at Albany- SUNY JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

 University at Albany- SUNY JMU
Graduation Rate 64% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $55,800 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,065 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $217 $216

Diversity

 University at Albany- SUNY JMU
% Men 11% 2%
% Women 17% 5%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 49% 76%
% Black 16% 4%
% Hispanic 15% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 6% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

 University at Albany- SUNY JMU
% In-State 93% 73%
% Out-of-State 4% 26%

Campus

 University at Albany- SUNY 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

  • James Madison University is larger than than University at Albany- SUNY based on total student enrollment (22,758 students vs. 16,880 students)

University at Albany- SUNY vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University at Albany- SUNY or JMU?

  • James Madison University is 11.9% more expensive to attend than University at Albany- SUNY for in-state tuition ($7,914.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.1% higher at University at Albany- SUNY than James Madison University ($25,660.00 vs. $25,128.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY at Albany than JMU ($19,165 vs. $26,317)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 28.6% lower than costs at SUNY at Albany ($12,584 vs. $16,182)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at SUNY at Albany than James Madison University (93% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by SUNY at Albany students is 118.7% larger than aid received James Madison University ($9,747 vs. $4,456)

University at Albany- SUNY vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 43 points higher than at University at Albany- SUNY (1091)
  • Incoming JMU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at University at Albany- SUNY (24)
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at University at Albany- SUNY (3.3)
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (76.2%) than University at Albany- SUNY (69.9%)

University at Albany- SUNY vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University at Albany- SUNY 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 University at Albany- SUNY.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than SUNY at Albany (81% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $4,500 more per year than University at Albany- SUNY graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $55,800)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $166 lower median federal student loan debt than University at Albany- SUNY graduates. ($20,899 vs. $21,065)
  • JMU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than University at Albany- SUNY graduates. ($216 vs. $217)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University at Albany- SUNY students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 70%)

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