UB vs. JMU

Should I go to University at Buffalo or James Madison University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UB or JMU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University at Buffalo vs. James Madison University comparison
University at Buffalo James Madison University College 3 College 4
University at Buffalo James Madison University
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Overview

 UB JMU
Location Buffalo, NY Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 31,889 22,758
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #101 #259
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website buffalo.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UB JMU
Tuition (In State) $7,070 $7,914
Tuition (Out of State) $26,860 $25,128
Room & Board $16,754 $12,584
Avg Net Price $20,511 $26,317
Avg Grant Aid $9,996 $4,456
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 81%

Admission

 UB JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 38,210 35,750
Admitted 26,481 27,258
Acceptance Rate 69.3% 76.2%
Enrolled % 16.1% 18.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.57
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 27/32 25/29
SAT Range 1210/1380 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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 UB JMU
% Men 17% 2%
% Women 19% 5%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 48% 76%
% Black 7% 4%
% Hispanic 6% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 16% 2%
% Unknown Race 5% 3%

Students

 UB JMU
% In-State 88% 73%
% Out-of-State 3% 26%

Campus

 UB 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

  • University at Buffalo is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (31,889 students vs. 22,758 students)

UB vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UB or JMU?

  • James Madison University is 11.9% more expensive to attend than UB for in-state tuition ($7,914.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.9% higher at UB than James Madison University ($26,860.00 vs. $25,128.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University at Buffalo than JMU ($20,511 vs. $26,317)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 33.1% lower than costs at University at Buffalo ($12,584 vs. $16,754)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at James Madison University than University at Buffalo (81% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University at Buffalo students is 124.3% larger than aid received James Madison University ($9,996 vs. $4,456)

UB vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UB or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or UB .

  • The average SAT score at University at Buffalo (1173) is 39 points higher than at JMU (1134)
  • Incoming UB students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at JMU (25)
  • Accepted freshman UB students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at JMU (3.57)
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (76.2%) than UB (69.3%)

UB vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UB 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 UB.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than University at Buffalo (81% vs. 71%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $1,900 more per year than UB graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $58,400)
  • University at Buffalo students graduate with a $1,399 lower median federal student loan debt than JMU graduates. ($19,500 vs. $20,899)
  • UB graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans 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/