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 32,099 22,224
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #103 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website buffalo.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UB JMU
Tuition (In State) $7,070 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $24,990 $24,744
Room & Board $16,212 $12,040
Avg Net Price $18,524 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $8,521 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 33%

Admission

 UB JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 30,939 30,727
Admitted 20,948 24,062
Acceptance Rate 67.7% 78.3%
Enrolled % 20.1% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.57
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/32 23/29
SAT Range 1190/1380 1140/1320
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 12:1 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 52% 42%
% Women 48% 58%
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 (32,099 students vs. 22,224 students)

UB vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UB or JMU?

  • James Madison University is 8.7% more expensive to attend than UB for in-state tuition ($7,684.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1% higher at UB than James Madison University ($24,990.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than UB ($18,274 vs. $18,524)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 34.7% lower than costs at University at Buffalo ($12,040 vs. $16,212)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University at Buffalo than James Madison University (74% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 18.3% larger than aid received University at Buffalo ($10,081 vs. $8,521)

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 (78.3%) than UB (67.7%)

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/