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Mason Virginia Tech VCU UVA CNU K-State Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD Elon ASU| University of Kansas | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
KU | JMU | ||
| Location | Lawrence, KS | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 26,708 | 22,224 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #252 | #260 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ku.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
KU | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,092 | $7,684 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,960 | $24,744 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,136 | $12,040 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,950 | $18,274 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,140 | $10,081 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 87% | 33% |
Admission |
KU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 16,204 | 30,727 | ||
| Admitted | 14,234 | 24,062 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87.8% | 78.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 31.3% | 20.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.66 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 23/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1090/1340 | 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 | Aug 15, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
KU | JMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
KU | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 61% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $54,600 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $211 | $216 |
Diversity |
KU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 45% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 55% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 72% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 6% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
KU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 58% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 39% | 26% | ||
Campus |
KU | JMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Kansas is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (26,708 students vs. 22,224 students)
KU vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, KU or JMU?
- University of Kansas is 31.3% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($10,092.00 vs. $7,684.00)
- Out of state tuition is 9% higher at KU than James Madison University ($26,960.00 vs. $24,744.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than KU ($18,274 vs. $18,950)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 18.8% lower than costs at James Madison University ($10,136 vs. $12,040)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Kansas than James Madison University (87% vs. 33%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 10.5% larger than aid received James Madison University ($11,140 vs. $10,081)
KU vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, KU or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or KU .
- The average SAT score at University of Kansas (1145) is 11 points higher than at JMU (1134)
- Incoming KU students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at JMU (25)
- Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at JMU (3.57)
- KU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than JMU (78.3%)
KU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, KU 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 KU.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than University of Kansas (81% vs. 61%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $5,700 more per year than KU graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $54,600)
- University of Kansas students graduate with a $399 lower median federal student loan debt than JMU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $20,899)
- KU graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than JMU graduates. ($211 vs. $216)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 66%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/