Iowa vs. JMU

Should I go to University of Iowa or James Madison University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Iowa 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 of Iowa vs. James Madison University comparison
University of Iowa James Madison University College 3 College 4
University of Iowa James Madison University
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Overview

 Iowa JMU
Location Iowa City, IA Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 30,015 22,224
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #224 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uiowa.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Iowa JMU
Tuition (In State) $8,711 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $30,674 $24,744
Room & Board $11,476 $12,040
Avg Net Price $19,587 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $9,959 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 33%

Admission

 Iowa JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,729 30,727
Admitted 22,128 24,062
Acceptance Rate 86% 78.3%
Enrolled % 23.4% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.57
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/28 23/29
SAT Range 1130/1340 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 May 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 Iowa JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

 Iowa JMU
Graduation Rate 71% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,800 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,616 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $223 $216

Diversity

 Iowa JMU
% Men 44% 42%
% Women 56% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 76%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 12% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 3%

Students

 Iowa JMU
% In-State 54% 73%
% Out-of-State 45% 26%

Campus

 Iowa 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 of Iowa is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (30,015 students vs. 22,224 students)

Iowa vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa or JMU?

  • University of Iowa is 13.4% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($8,711.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 24% higher at Iowa than James Madison University ($30,674.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Iowa ($18,274 vs. $19,587)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Iowa are 4.9% lower than costs at James Madison University ($11,476 vs. $12,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Iowa than James Madison University (82% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 1.2% larger than aid received University of Iowa ($10,081 vs. $9,959)

Iowa vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Iowa (1164) is 30 points higher than at JMU (1134)
  • Incoming Iowa students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at JMU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at JMU (3.57)
  • Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than JMU (78.3%)

Iowa vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Iowa 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 Iowa.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than University of Iowa (81% vs. 71%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $500 more per year than Iowa graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $59,800)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $717 lower median federal student loan debt than Iowa graduates. ($20,899 vs. $21,616)
  • JMU graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than Iowa graduates. ($216 vs. $223)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa 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/