Maryland vs. JMU

Deciding between University of Maryland College Park 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 College Park
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Maryland College Park, MD
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Maryland Large Suburban
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Maryland 41,725
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Maryland Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Maryland #85
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Maryland -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Maryland Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Maryland
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Maryland $11,809
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Maryland $41,186
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Maryland $15,958
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Maryland $16,581
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Maryland $12,867
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Maryland 55%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Maryland 60,056
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Maryland 26,902
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Maryland 44.8%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Maryland 21.6%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Maryland 1470
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Maryland 33
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Maryland 3.84
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Maryland A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Maryland Elite
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Maryland Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Maryland 32/35
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Maryland 1400/1530
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Maryland Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Maryland
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Maryland 17:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Maryland
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Maryland 82%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Maryland $68,300
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Maryland 80%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Maryland $19,500
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Maryland $201
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Maryland 51%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Maryland 49%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Maryland High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Maryland No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Maryland 52%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Maryland 16%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Maryland 13%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Maryland 9%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Maryland 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Maryland 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Maryland 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Maryland 4%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Maryland 1%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Maryland 70%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Maryland 28%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Maryland College Park is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (41,725 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Maryland vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Maryland 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 College Park than JMU ($16,581 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 18.2% lower than at University of Maryland College Park ($13,056 vs. $15,958).
  • James Madison University is 20.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Maryland (about $2,441 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $11,809.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.3% higher at Maryland than at James Madison University (about $9,582 more per year; $41,186.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland College Park than at James Madison University (55% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Maryland College Park students is 6.2% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($12,867 vs. $12,114).

Maryland vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Maryland 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 Maryland.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland College Park (1470) is 210 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Maryland students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland College Park 1400/1530; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland College Park 32/35; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Maryland - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Maryland students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Maryland (44.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at Maryland vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Maryland vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Maryland 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).

  • University of Maryland College Park's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than James Madison University's (81%).
  • Graduates from University of Maryland College Park earn a median of about $8,000 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,300 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland College Park graduates have a $1,399 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($19,500 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, Maryland graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($201 vs. $216).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Maryland students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 80%)

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.