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Mason Virginia Tech VCU Tennessee Ole Miss Auburn UVA CNU LSU Georgia Old Dominion Mary Washington College| The University of Alabama | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Alabama | JMU | ||
| Location | Tuscaloosa, AL | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 39,622 | 22,758 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #403 | #259 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ua.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Alabama | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,100 | $7,914 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $32,400 | $25,128 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,840 | $12,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,761 | $26,317 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $16,394 | $4,456 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 72% | 81% |
Admission |
Alabama | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 58,418 | 35,750 | ||
| Admitted | 44,295 | 27,258 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 75.8% | 76.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.7% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.76 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 24/31 | 25/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1170/1400 | 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 | May 1, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Alabama | JMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Alabama | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,900 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 59% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,750 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $245 | $216 |
Diversity |
Alabama | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 6% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 3% |
Students |
Alabama | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 36% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 63% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Alabama | 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
- The University of Alabama is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (39,622 students vs. 22,758 students)
Alabama vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Alabama or JMU?
- The University of Alabama is 40.3% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($11,100.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 28.9% higher at Alabama than James Madison University ($32,400.00 vs. $25,128.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Alabama than JMU ($21,761 vs. $26,317)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 17.9% lower than costs at The University of Alabama ($12,584 vs. $14,840)
- More students receive financial grant aid at James Madison University than The University of Alabama (81% vs. 72%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 267.9% larger than aid received James Madison University ($16,394 vs. $4,456)
Alabama vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Alabama or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or Alabama .
- The average SAT score at The University of Alabama (1181) is 47 points higher than at JMU (1134)
- Incoming Alabama students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at JMU (25)
- Accepted freshman Alabama 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 (76.2%) than Alabama (75.8%)
Alabama vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Alabama 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 Alabama.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than The University of Alabama (81% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $10,400 more per year than Alabama graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $49,900)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $2,851 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama graduates. ($20,899 vs. $23,750)
- JMU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama graduates. ($216 vs. $245)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 59%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/