Syracuse vs. JMU

Deciding between Syracuse 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.

Syracuse University
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Syracuse #158
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Syracuse -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Syracuse
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Syracuse 76%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Syracuse 1360
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Syracuse 30
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Syracuse A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Syracuse Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Syracuse Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Syracuse 80%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Syracuse 80%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Syracuse $279
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Syracuse 44%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Syracuse 56%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Syracuse High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Syracuse No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Syracuse 55%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Syracuse 8%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Syracuse 8%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Syracuse 11%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Syracuse 1%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Syracuse 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Syracuse 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Syracuse 12%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Syracuse 2%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Syracuse 31%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Syracuse 63%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY 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 Syracuse based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 22,589 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Syracuse University is located in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Syracuse University 15:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Syracuse vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Syracuse 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 Syracuse ($18,856 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 32% lower than at Syracuse University ($13,056 vs. $19,188).
  • Syracuse University is 359.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $51,278 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 107.3% higher at Syracuse than at James Madison University (about $33,924 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at James Madison University (76% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Syracuse University students is 200.6% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($36,417 vs. $12,114).

Syracuse vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Syracuse 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 Syracuse.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Syracuse University (1360) is 100 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Syracuse students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 1270/1440; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 29/32; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Syracuse - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Syracuse Jan 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Syracuse students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Syracuse (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Syracuse vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Syracuse vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Syracuse 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 Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,900 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $6,101 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($20,899 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $63 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($216 vs. $279).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 80%)

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.