Pitt vs. JMU

Deciding between University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Pitt Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Pitt 35,724
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Pitt #138
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Pitt -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Pitt
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Pitt $21,926
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Pitt $41,430
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Pitt $13,620
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Pitt $25,223
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Pitt $16,494
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Pitt 53%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Pitt 60,898
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Pitt 35,372
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Pitt 13%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Pitt 1370
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Pitt 31
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Pitt 3.79
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Pitt A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Pitt Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Pitt Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Pitt 29/33
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Pitt Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Pitt
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Pitt 13:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Pitt 79%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Pitt $58,000
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Pitt 75%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Pitt $26,909
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Pitt $278
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Pitt 42%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Pitt 58%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Pitt Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Pitt No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Pitt 74%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Pitt 9%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Pitt 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Pitt 3%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Pitt 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Pitt 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Pitt 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Pitt 4%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Pitt 1%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Pitt 64%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Pitt 33%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in Pittsburgh, PA with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (35,724 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Pitt vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitt 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 Pitt ($18,856 vs. $25,223).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 4.1% lower than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ($13,056 vs. $13,620).
  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is 53.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $7,676 more per year; $21,926.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 31.1% higher at Pitt than at James Madison University (about $9,826 more per year; $41,430.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus than at James Madison University (53% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students is 36.2% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($16,494 vs. $12,114).

Pitt vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pitt 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 Pitt.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (1370) is 110 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Pitt students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitt - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Pitt students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Pitt (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13% at Pitt vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Pitt vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitt 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's (79%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Pitt graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $6,010 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($20,899 vs. $26,909).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($216 vs. $278).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitt students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 75%)

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.