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Mason Virginia Tech VCU UMBC UVA CNU Maryland Salisbury Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD| Towson University | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
TU | JMU | ||
| Location | Towson, MD | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 19,527 | 22,758 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #375 | #259 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | towson.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
TU | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,382 | $7,914 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,402 | $25,128 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,644 | $12,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,064 | $26,317 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,565 | $4,456 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 81% |
Admission |
TU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,948 | 35,750 | ||
| Admitted | 15,689 | 27,258 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 82.8% | 76.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.2% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.69 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/28 | 25/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1050/1270 | 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 | Apr 1, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
TU | JMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
TU | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 64% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,500 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,750 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $183 | $216 |
Diversity |
TU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 12% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 61% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 18% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 3% |
Students |
TU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 9% | 26% | ||
Campus |
TU | JMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- James Madison University is larger than than TU based on total student enrollment (22,758 students vs. 19,527 students)
TU vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, TU or JMU?
- James Madison University is 7.2% more expensive to attend than TU for in-state tuition ($7,914.00 vs. $7,382.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3% higher at JMU than Towson University ($25,128.00 vs. $24,402.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Towson University than JMU ($15,064 vs. $26,317)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 24.3% lower than costs at Towson University ($12,584 vs. $15,644)
- More students receive financial grant aid at James Madison University than Towson University (81% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Towson University students is 159.5% larger than aid received James Madison University ($11,565 vs. $4,456)
TU vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, TU or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or TU .
- The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 53 points higher than at TU (1081)
- Incoming JMU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at TU (23)
- Accepted freshman TU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at JMU (3.57)
- TU has a higher acceptance rate (82.8%) than JMU (76.2%)
TU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, TU 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 TU.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Towson University (81% vs. 64%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $6,800 more per year than TU graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $53,500)
- Towson University students graduate with a $3,149 lower median federal student loan debt than JMU graduates. ($17,750 vs. $20,899)
- TU graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than JMU graduates. ($183 vs. $216)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TU 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/