USMMA vs. JMU

Deciding between United States Merchant Marine Academy 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.

United States Merchant Marine Academy
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • USMMA Kings Point, NY
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • USMMA Large Suburban
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • USMMA 976
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • USMMA Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • USMMA
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • USMMA -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • USMMA Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • USMMA
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • USMMA $895
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • USMMA $895
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • USMMA $0
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • USMMA $4,101
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • USMMA $5,067
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • USMMA 10%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • USMMA 1,367
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • USMMA 468
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • USMMA 34.2%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • USMMA 64.1%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • USMMA 1210
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • USMMA 25
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • USMMA 3.6
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • USMMA A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • USMMA Challenging
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • USMMA High
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • USMMA 22/29
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • USMMA 1110/1300
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • USMMA Required
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • USMMA Mar 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • USMMA 13:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • USMMA
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • USMMA -
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • USMMA $92,400
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • USMMA -
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • USMMA $6,500
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • USMMA $67
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • USMMA 82%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • USMMA 18%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • USMMA Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • USMMA No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • USMMA 75%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • USMMA 7%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • USMMA 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • USMMA 10%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • USMMA 2%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • USMMA 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • USMMA 0%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • USMMA 1%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • USMMA 2%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • USMMA 7%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • USMMA 93%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY 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 USMMA based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 976 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • United States Merchant Marine Academy is located in Kings Point, NY (Large Suburban setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • United States Merchant Marine Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: United States Merchant Marine Academy 13:1; James Madison University 17:1.

USMMA vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USMMA 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 United States Merchant Marine Academy than JMU ($4,101 vs. $18,856).
  • James Madison University is 1,492.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than USMMA (about $13,355 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $895.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3,431.2% higher at JMU than at United States Merchant Marine Academy (about $30,709 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $895.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at James Madison University than at United States Merchant Marine Academy (33% vs. 10%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 139.1% larger than aid received by United States Merchant Marine Academy students ($12,114 vs. $5,067).

USMMA vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USMMA 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 USMMA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 50 points higher than at USMMA (1210).
  • Incoming JMU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at USMMA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: United States Merchant Marine Academy 1110/1300; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: United States Merchant Marine Academy 22/29; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USMMA - Required; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: USMMA Mar 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman USMMA students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than USMMA (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 64.1% at USMMA vs. 18.2% at JMU.

USMMA vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USMMA 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).

  • Graduates from United States Merchant Marine Academy earn a median of about $32,100 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($92,400 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, United States Merchant Marine Academy graduates have a $14,399 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($6,500 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, USMMA graduates have an estimated $149 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($67 vs. $216).

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.