Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Mason Virginia Tech VCU Tennessee UVA Louisville CNU IU Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD| University of Kentucky | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Kentucky | JMU | ||
| Location | Lexington, KY | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 31,547 | 22,224 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #408 | #260 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uky.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Kentucky | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,496 | $7,684 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,913 | $24,744 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,676 | $12,040 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,693 | $18,274 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $14,114 | $10,081 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 94% | 33% |
Admission |
Kentucky | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 22,109 | 30,727 | ||
| Admitted | 20,979 | 24,062 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 94.9% | 78.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.9% | 20.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.59 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 23/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1070/1290 | 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 | Feb 15, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Kentucky | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Kentucky | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 59% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $51,000 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 62% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,750 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $235 | $216 |
Diversity |
Kentucky | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 3% |
Students |
Kentucky | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 61% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 37% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Kentucky | JMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Kentucky is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (31,547 students vs. 22,224 students)
Kentucky vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Kentucky or JMU?
- University of Kentucky is 49.6% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($11,496.00 vs. $7,684.00)
- Out of state tuition is 24.9% higher at Kentucky than James Madison University ($30,913.00 vs. $24,744.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Kentucky ($18,274 vs. $18,693)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 21.9% lower than costs at University of Kentucky ($12,040 vs. $14,676)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Kentucky than James Madison University (94% vs. 33%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kentucky students is 40% larger than aid received James Madison University ($14,114 vs. $10,081)
Kentucky vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Kentucky or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or Kentucky .
- The average SAT score at University of Kentucky (1143) is 9 points higher than at JMU (1134)
- Incoming Kentucky students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at JMU (25)
- Accepted freshman Kentucky students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at JMU (3.57)
- Kentucky has a higher acceptance rate (94.9%) than JMU (78.3%)
Kentucky vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Kentucky 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 Kentucky.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than University of Kentucky (81% vs. 59%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $9,300 more per year than Kentucky graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $51,000)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $1,851 lower median federal student loan debt than Kentucky graduates. ($20,899 vs. $22,750)
- JMU graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than Kentucky graduates. ($216 vs. $235)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kentucky students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 62%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/