UB vs. JMU

Deciding between University at Buffalo 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.

University at Buffalo
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • UB Large Suburban
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UB 31,903
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UB #101
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UB -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • UB Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UB
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UB $10,936
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UB $31,536
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • UB $17,426
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • UB $20,529
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UB $10,663
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UB 76%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UB 40,856
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • UB 30,308
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UB 74.2%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UB 14.1%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UB 1300
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UB 29
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UB 3.75
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UB A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UB Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UB Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • UB 27/32
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • UB 1210/1380
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UB Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UB
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UB 11:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UB 71%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UB $58,400
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UB 70%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UB $19,500
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UB $201
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UB 51%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • UB 49%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UB High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • UB No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • UB 48%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • UB 14%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • UB 7%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UB 6%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • UB 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UB 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UB 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • UB 16%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UB 5%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UB 88%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UB 3%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University at Buffalo is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University at Buffalo is located in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University at Buffalo 11:1; James Madison University 17:1.

UB vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UB 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 UB ($18,856 vs. $20,529).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 25.1% lower than at University at Buffalo ($13,056 vs. $17,426).
  • James Madison University is 30.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $3,314 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at JMU than at University at Buffalo (about $68 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at James Madison University (76% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 13.6% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($12,114 vs. $10,663).

UB vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UB 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 UB.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University at Buffalo (1300) is 40 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming UB students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 1210/1380; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 27/32; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UB - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UB students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at UB vs. 18.2% at JMU.

UB vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UB 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 University at Buffalo's (71%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $1,399 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($19,500 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($201 vs. $216).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 70%)

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.