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Mason Virginia Tech VCU UVA CNU University of Missouri-Kansas City Iowa Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary Truman State UD| University of Missouri Columbia | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
University of Missouri-Columbia | JMU | ||
| Location | Columbia, MO | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 31,013 | 22,758 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #274 | #259 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | missouri.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
University of Missouri-Columbia | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $13,008 | $7,914 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $33,216 | $25,128 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,550 | $12,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,006 | $26,317 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,734 | $4,456 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 84% | 81% |
Admission |
University of Missouri-Columbia | JMU | ||
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| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 21,669 | 35,750 | ||
| Admitted | 16,690 | 27,258 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77% | 76.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 30.8% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.61 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/29 | 25/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1150/1330 | 1170/1320 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
University of Missouri-Columbia | JMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
University of Missouri-Columbia | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 69% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $54,200 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 73% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,883 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $226 | $216 |
Diversity |
University of Missouri-Columbia | JMU | ||
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| % Men | 9% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 15% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 3% |
Students |
University of Missouri-Columbia | JMU | ||
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| % In-State | 66% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 33% | 26% | ||
Campus |
University of Missouri-Columbia | JMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Missouri Columbia is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (31,013 students vs. 22,758 students)
University of Missouri-Columbia vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, University of Missouri-Columbia or JMU?
- University of Missouri Columbia is 64.4% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($13,008.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 32.2% higher at University of Missouri-Columbia than James Madison University ($33,216.00 vs. $25,128.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Missouri Columbia than JMU ($20,006 vs. $26,317)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 7.7% lower than costs at University of Missouri Columbia ($12,584 vs. $13,550)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Missouri Columbia than James Madison University (84% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Missouri Columbia students is 163.3% larger than aid received James Madison University ($11,734 vs. $4,456)
University of Missouri-Columbia vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, University of Missouri-Columbia or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or University of Missouri-Columbia .
- The average SAT score at University of Missouri Columbia (1203) is 69 points higher than at JMU (1134)
- Incoming University of Missouri-Columbia students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at JMU (25)
- Accepted freshman University of Missouri-Columbia students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at JMU (3.57)
- University of Missouri-Columbia has a higher acceptance rate (77%) than JMU (76.2%)
University of Missouri-Columbia vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, University of Missouri-Columbia 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 University of Missouri-Columbia.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than University of Missouri Columbia (81% vs. 69%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $6,100 more per year than University of Missouri-Columbia graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $54,200)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $984 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Missouri-Columbia graduates. ($20,899 vs. $21,883)
- JMU graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than University of Missouri-Columbia graduates. ($216 vs. $226)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Missouri-Columbia students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 73%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/