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Mason Virginia Tech VCU Penn State UVA CNU Ohio State Duquesne University Rutgers Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary| University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Pitt | JMU | ||
| Location | Pittsburgh, PA | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 34,525 | 22,758 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #131 | #259 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pitt.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Pitt | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $20,154 | $7,914 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $38,520 | $25,128 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,420 | $12,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,338 | $26,317 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,551 | $4,456 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 82% | 81% |
Admission |
Pitt | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 58,416 | 35,750 | ||
| Admitted | 29,034 | 27,258 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 49.7% | 76.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.7% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.79 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 25/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1270/1450 | 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 |
Pitt | JMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Pitt | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 79% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $58,000 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 75% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,909 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $278 | $216 |
Diversity |
Pitt | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 11% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 16% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
Pitt | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 56% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 38% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Pitt | JMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (34,525 students vs. 22,758 students)
Pitt vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Pitt or JMU?
- University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is 154.7% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($20,154.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 53.3% higher at Pitt than James Madison University ($38,520.00 vs. $25,128.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus than JMU ($24,338 vs. $26,317)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 6.6% lower than costs at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ($12,584 vs. $13,420)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus than James Madison University (82% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students is 136.8% larger than aid received James Madison University ($10,551 vs. $4,456)
Pitt vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Pitt or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or Pitt .
- The average SAT score at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (1272) is 138 points higher than at JMU (1134)
- Incoming Pitt students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at JMU (25)
- 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 (76.2%) than Pitt (49.7%)
Pitt vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Pitt 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 Pitt.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (81% vs. 79%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $2,300 more per year than Pitt graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $58,000)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $6,010 lower median federal student loan debt than Pitt graduates. ($20,899 vs. $26,909)
- JMU graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans 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/