Purchase College vs. JMU

Should I go to SUNY at Purchase College or James Madison University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Purchase College 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Mason Virginia Tech VCU UVA CNU Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD Elon ASU Penn State
SUNY at Purchase College vs. James Madison University comparison
SUNY at Purchase College James Madison University College 3 College 4
SUNY at Purchase College James Madison University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Purchase College JMU
Location Purchase, NY Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 3,182 22,224
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #319 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website purchase.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Purchase College JMU
Tuition (In State) $7,070 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $16,980 $24,744
Room & Board $14,948 $12,040
Avg Net Price $19,434 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $10,312 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 73% 33%

Admission

 Purchase College JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,747 30,727
Admitted 4,292 24,062
Acceptance Rate 74.7% 78.3%
Enrolled % 16% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.37 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 29/31 23/29
SAT Range 1190/1350 1140/1320
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 Jul 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 Purchase College JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

 Purchase College JMU
Graduation Rate 56% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,200 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $232 $216

Diversity

 Purchase College JMU
% Men 42% 42%
% Women 58% 58%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 76%
% Black 10% 4%
% Hispanic 18% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 7% 3%

Students

 Purchase College JMU
% In-State 85% 73%
% Out-of-State 14% 26%

Campus

 Purchase College 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

  • James Madison University is larger than than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 3,182 students)

Purchase College vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Purchase College or JMU?

  • James Madison University is 8.7% more expensive to attend than Purchase College for in-state tuition ($7,684.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 45.7% higher at JMU than SUNY at Purchase College ($24,744.00 vs. $16,980.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Purchase College ($18,274 vs. $19,434)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 24.2% lower than costs at SUNY at Purchase College ($12,040 vs. $14,948)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at SUNY at Purchase College than James Madison University (73% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by SUNY at Purchase College students is 2.3% larger than aid received James Madison University ($10,312 vs. $10,081)

Purchase College vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 52 points higher than at Purchase College (1082)
  • Incoming Purchase College students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at JMU (25)
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Purchase College (3.37)
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than Purchase College (74.7%)

Purchase College vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Purchase College 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 Purchase College.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than SUNY at Purchase College (81% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $20,100 more per year than Purchase College graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $40,200)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $1,601 lower median federal student loan debt than Purchase College graduates. ($20,899 vs. $22,500)
  • JMU graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Purchase College graduates. ($216 vs. $232)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College 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/