Tennessee vs. JMU

Deciding between The University of Tennessee Knoxville 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 Tennessee Knoxville
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tennessee Knoxville, TN
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Tennessee Midsize City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Tennessee 38,728
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Tennessee Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tennessee #226
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tennessee -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Tennessee Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Tennessee
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tennessee $13,812
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tennessee $33,256
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Tennessee $13,356
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Tennessee $21,648
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tennessee $11,434
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tennessee 94%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Tennessee 59,764
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Tennessee 24,863
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tennessee 41.6%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Tennessee 27.4%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tennessee 1290
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tennessee 28
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tennessee 3.66
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tennessee A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tennessee Difficult
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tennessee Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Tennessee 25/31
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Tennessee 1200/1370
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tennessee Required
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Tennessee
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tennessee 18:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tennessee
    • Business (20%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Tennessee 63%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Tennessee $56,300
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Tennessee 69%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Tennessee $20,000
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Tennessee $206
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tennessee 46%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Tennessee 54%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tennessee Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Tennessee No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Tennessee 79%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Tennessee 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Tennessee 7%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tennessee 3%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Tennessee 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tennessee 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tennessee 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Tennessee 1%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tennessee 3%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tennessee 64%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tennessee 35%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

The University of Tennessee Knoxville is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (38,728 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The University of Tennessee Knoxville is located in Knoxville, TN (Midsize City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • The University of Tennessee Knoxville 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 Tennessee Knoxville 18:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Tennessee vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tennessee 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 Tennessee ($18,856 vs. $21,648).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 2.2% lower than at The University of Tennessee Knoxville ($13,056 vs. $13,356).
  • James Madison University is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tennessee (about $438 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $13,812.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.2% higher at Tennessee than at James Madison University (about $1,652 more per year; $33,256.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Tennessee Knoxville than at James Madison University (94% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 5.9% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Knoxville students ($12,114 vs. $11,434).

Tennessee vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Tennessee 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 Tennessee.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (1290) is 30 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Tennessee students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Tennessee Knoxville 1200/1370; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Tennessee Knoxville 25/31; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tennessee - Required; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Tennessee students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Tennessee (41.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.4% at Tennessee vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Tennessee vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tennessee 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 Tennessee Knoxville's (63%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than Tennessee graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $56,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Knoxville graduates have a $899 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($20,000 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, Tennessee graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($206 vs. $216).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 69%)

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.