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Mason Virginia Tech VCU Maryland TU UVA CNU Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD Elon| University of Maryland Baltimore County | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
UMBC | JMU | ||
| Location | Baltimore, MD | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 13,991 | 22,224 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #303 | #260 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | umbc.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UMBC | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,056 | $7,684 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,820 | $24,744 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,378 | $12,040 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,692 | $18,274 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,889 | $10,081 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 33% |
Admission |
UMBC | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,534 | 30,727 | ||
| Admitted | 9,291 | 24,062 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 80.6% | 78.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.1% | 20.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.97 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/29 | 23/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1210/1390 | 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 1, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
UMBC | JMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UMBC | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 57% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,500 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 67% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,197 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $219 | $216 |
Diversity |
UMBC | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 53% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 47% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 44% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 17% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 3% |
Students |
UMBC | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 26% | ||
Campus |
UMBC | 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
- James Madison University is larger than than UMBC based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 13,991 students)
UMBC vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UMBC or JMU?
- University of Maryland Baltimore County is 17.9% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($9,056.00 vs. $7,684.00)
- Out of state tuition is 4.3% higher at UMBC than James Madison University ($25,820.00 vs. $24,744.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Maryland Baltimore County than JMU ($17,692 vs. $18,274)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 11.1% lower than costs at University of Maryland Baltimore County ($12,040 vs. $13,378)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than James Madison University (92% vs. 33%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 13.4% larger than aid received University of Maryland Baltimore County ($10,081 vs. $8,889)
UMBC vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UMBC or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or UMBC .
- The average SAT score at University of Maryland Baltimore County (1209) is 75 points higher than at JMU (1134)
- Incoming UMBC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at JMU (25)
- Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at JMU (3.57)
- UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (80.6%) than JMU (78.3%)
UMBC vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UMBC 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 UMBC.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County (81% vs. 57%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $800 more per year than UMBC graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $59,500)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $298 lower median federal student loan debt than UMBC graduates. ($20,899 vs. $21,197)
- JMU graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than UMBC graduates. ($216 vs. $219)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 67%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/