Wooster vs. JMU

Deciding between The College of Wooster 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.

The College of Wooster
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wooster Wooster, OH
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Wooster Distant Town
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Wooster 1,738
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Wooster Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wooster #187
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wooster -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Wooster Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wooster
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wooster $61,640
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wooster $61,640
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Wooster $14,490
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Wooster $28,004
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wooster $47,672
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wooster 100%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wooster 5,473
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Wooster 3,258
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wooster 59.5%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Wooster 11.4%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wooster 1340
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wooster 30
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wooster 3.76
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wooster A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wooster Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wooster Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Wooster 27/33
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Wooster 1220/1460
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wooster Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Wooster Feb 15, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wooster 10:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wooster
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wooster 75%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wooster $51,200
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wooster 76%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wooster $26,000
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wooster $268
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wooster 47%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Wooster 53%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wooster Medium
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Wooster No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Wooster 69%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Wooster 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Wooster 8%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wooster 5%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Wooster 1%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wooster 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wooster 0%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Wooster 9%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wooster 3%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wooster 41%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wooster 47%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare The College of Wooster in Wooster, OH 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 Wooster based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 1,738 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The College of Wooster is located in Wooster, OH (Distant Town setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • The College of Wooster is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The College of Wooster 10:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Wooster vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wooster 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 Wooster ($18,856 vs. $28,004).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 9.9% lower than at The College of Wooster ($13,056 vs. $14,490).
  • The College of Wooster is 332.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $47,390 more per year; $61,640.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 95% higher at Wooster than at James Madison University (about $30,036 more per year; $61,640.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The College of Wooster than at James Madison University (100% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The College of Wooster students is 293.5% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($47,672 vs. $12,114).

Wooster vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wooster 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 Wooster.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The College of Wooster (1340) is 80 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Wooster 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: The College of Wooster 1220/1460; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of Wooster 27/33; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wooster - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wooster Feb 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wooster students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Wooster (59.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.4% at Wooster vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Wooster vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wooster 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 The College of Wooster's (75%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $9,100 more per year than Wooster graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $51,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $5,101 lower median loan debt than Wooster graduates ($20,899 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wooster graduates ($216 vs. $268).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wooster students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 76%)

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.