UIC vs. JMU

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago 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 of Illinois Chicago
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Chicago in Chicago, IL with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; James Madison University 17:1.

UIC vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC 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 University of Illinois Chicago than JMU ($10,852 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 20.9% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($13,056 vs. $16,500).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is 0.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $88 more per year; $14,338.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.8% higher at JMU than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $1,720 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Illinois Chicago than at James Madison University (74% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 38.3% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($16,755 vs. $12,114).

UIC vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIC 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 UIC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 20 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 18.2% at JMU.

UIC vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC 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 of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $2,149 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($18,750 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($193 vs. $216).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 68%)

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.