UofSC vs. JMU

Deciding between University of South Carolina Columbia 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 South Carolina Columbia
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UofSC Columbia, SC
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • UofSC Midsize City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UofSC 38,532
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • UofSC Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UofSC #220
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UofSC -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • UofSC Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UofSC
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UofSC $12,688
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UofSC $35,972
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • UofSC $13,534
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • UofSC $24,488
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UofSC $7,139
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UofSC 91%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UofSC 52,703
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • UofSC 31,701
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UofSC 60.2%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UofSC 22.9%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UofSC 1270
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UofSC 29
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UofSC 3.69
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UofSC A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UofSC Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UofSC Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • UofSC 26/32
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • UofSC 1180/1360
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UofSC Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UofSC Dec 1, 2026
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UofSC 19:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UofSC
    • Business (35%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UofSC 70%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UofSC $51,700
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UofSC 69%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UofSC $23,250
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UofSC $240
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UofSC 40%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • UofSC 60%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UofSC Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • UofSC No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • UofSC 77%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • UofSC 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • UofSC 10%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UofSC 4%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • UofSC 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UofSC 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UofSC 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • UofSC 1%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UofSC 1%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UofSC 54%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UofSC 45%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of South Carolina Columbia in Columbia, SC with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of South Carolina Columbia is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (38,532 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of South Carolina Columbia is located in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of South Carolina Columbia 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 South Carolina Columbia 19:1; James Madison University 17:1.

UofSC vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UofSC 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 UofSC ($18,856 vs. $24,488).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 3.5% lower than at University of South Carolina Columbia ($13,056 vs. $13,534).
  • James Madison University is 12.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UofSC (about $1,562 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $12,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.8% higher at UofSC than at James Madison University (about $4,368 more per year; $35,972.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than at James Madison University (91% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 69.7% larger than aid received by University of South Carolina Columbia students ($12,114 vs. $7,139).

UofSC vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UofSC 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 UofSC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of South Carolina Columbia (1270) is 10 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming UofSC students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of South Carolina Columbia 1180/1360; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of South Carolina Columbia 26/32; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UofSC - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UofSC Dec 1, 2026; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UofSC students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than UofSC (60.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.9% at UofSC vs. 18.2% at JMU.

UofSC vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UofSC 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 South Carolina Columbia's (70%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than UofSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $51,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $2,351 lower median loan debt than UofSC graduates ($20,899 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UofSC graduates ($216 vs. $240).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UofSC students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 69%)

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.