Alabama vs. JMU

Deciding between The University of Alabama 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 University of Alabama
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Alabama Small City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Alabama 40,846
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Alabama Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Alabama #416
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Alabama -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Alabama Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Alabama
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Alabama $12,180
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Alabama $34,172
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Alabama $15,016
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Alabama $22,559
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Alabama $17,503
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Alabama 80%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Alabama 56,795
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Alabama 43,531
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Alabama 76.6%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Alabama 18.5%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Alabama 1290
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Alabama 27
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Alabama 3.76
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Alabama A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Alabama Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Alabama
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Alabama 24/31
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Alabama 1170/1400
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Alabama Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Alabama May 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Alabama 19:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Alabama
    • Business (29%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Alabama 66%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Alabama $49,900
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Alabama 59%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Alabama $23,750
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Alabama $245
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Alabama 43%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Alabama 57%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Alabama Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Alabama No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Alabama 78%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Alabama 1%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Alabama 11%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Alabama 4%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Alabama 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Alabama 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Alabama 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Alabama 2%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Alabama 0%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Alabama 40%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Alabama 59%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Alabama is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (40,846 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, AL (Small City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • The University of Alabama is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The University of Alabama 19:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Alabama vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama 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 Alabama ($18,856 vs. $22,559).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 13.1% lower than at The University of Alabama ($13,056 vs. $15,016).
  • James Madison University is 17% more expensive for in-state tuition than Alabama (about $2,070 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $12,180.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.1% higher at Alabama than at James Madison University (about $2,568 more per year; $34,172.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Alabama than at James Madison University (80% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 44.5% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($17,503 vs. $12,114).

Alabama vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alabama 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 Alabama.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Alabama (1290) is 30 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Alabama students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Alabama 1170/1400; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Alabama 24/31; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Alabama - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Alabama May 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Alabama students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • Alabama has a higher acceptance rate (76.6%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.5% at Alabama vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Alabama vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Alabama 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 University of Alabama's (66%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $10,400 more per year than Alabama graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $49,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $2,851 lower median loan debt than Alabama graduates ($20,899 vs. $23,750).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.