UMBC vs. JMU

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County 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 Maryland Baltimore County
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Maryland Baltimore County in Baltimore, MD with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

James Madison University is larger than UMBC based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 13,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County 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 Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; James Madison University 17:1.

UMBC vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC 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 Maryland Baltimore County than JMU ($18,770 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 13.8% lower than at University of Maryland Baltimore County ($13,056 vs. $15,146).
  • James Madison University is 7.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $994 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at JMU than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $329 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at James Madison University (88% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 18.7% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($12,114 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMBC 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 UMBC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland Baltimore County (1330) is 70 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming UMBC 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 Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (72.4%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 18.2% at JMU.

UMBC vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC 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 Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $800 more per year than UMBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $298 lower median loan debt than UMBC graduates ($20,899 vs. $21,197).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.