UNCW vs. JMU

Deciding between University of North Carolina Wilmington 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 North Carolina Wilmington
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UNCW Wilmington, NC
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • UNCW Midsize City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UNCW 18,848
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • UNCW Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UNCW #389
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UNCW -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • UNCW Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UNCW
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UNCW $7,277
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UNCW $24,152
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • UNCW $14,268
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • UNCW $18,976
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UNCW $6,674
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UNCW 55%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UNCW 20,393
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • UNCW 13,101
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UNCW 64.2%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UNCW 21%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UNCW 1290
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UNCW 26
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UNCW 3.56
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UNCW A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UNCW Difficult
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UNCW Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • UNCW 24/29
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • UNCW 1230/1340
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UNCW Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UNCW Feb 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UNCW 17:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UNCW
    • Business (22%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UNCW 67%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UNCW $44,700
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UNCW 64%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UNCW $20,500
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UNCW $211
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UNCW 35%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • UNCW 65%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UNCW Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • UNCW No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • UNCW 78%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • UNCW 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • UNCW 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UNCW 7%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • UNCW 1%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UNCW 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UNCW 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • UNCW 1%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UNCW 3%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UNCW 87%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UNCW 11%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina Wilmington in Wilmington, NC 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 UNCW based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 18,848 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of North Carolina Wilmington is located in Wilmington, NC (Midsize City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of North Carolina Wilmington 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 North Carolina Wilmington 17:1; James Madison University 17:1.

UNCW vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNCW 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 James Madison University than UNCW ($18,856 vs. $18,976).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 8.5% lower than at University of North Carolina Wilmington ($13,056 vs. $14,268).
  • James Madison University is 95.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNCW (about $6,973 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $7,277.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.9% higher at JMU than at University of North Carolina Wilmington (about $7,452 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $24,152.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of North Carolina Wilmington than at James Madison University (55% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 81.5% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina Wilmington students ($12,114 vs. $6,674).

UNCW vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNCW 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 UNCW.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina Wilmington (1290) is 30 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming UNCW students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 26) as students at JMU (26).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina Wilmington 1230/1340; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina Wilmington 24/29; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNCW - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UNCW Feb 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at UNCW (3.56).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than UNCW (64.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21% at UNCW vs. 18.2% at JMU.

UNCW vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNCW 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 North Carolina Wilmington's (67%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $15,600 more per year than UNCW graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $44,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina Wilmington graduates have a $399 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($20,500 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, UNCW graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($211 vs. $216).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCW students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 64%)

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.