Ursinus College vs. JMU

Should I go to Ursinus College or James Madison University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Ursinus College or JMU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Ursinus College vs. James Madison University comparison
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Ursinus College James Madison University
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Overview

Ursinus College JMU
Location Collegeville, PA Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 1,527 22,224
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #214 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ursinus.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Ursinus College JMU
Tuition (In State) $58,016 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $58,016 $24,744
Room & Board $14,624 $12,040
Avg Net Price $33,546 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $40,075 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 33%

Admission

Ursinus College JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,237 30,727
Admitted 2,661 24,062
Acceptance Rate 82.2% 78.3%
Enrolled % 14.3% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 28/32 23/29
SAT Range 1180/1380 1140/1320
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 May 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Ursinus College JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (24%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

Ursinus College JMU
Graduation Rate 80% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,000 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 83% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $279 $216

Diversity

Ursinus College JMU
% Men 52% 42%
% Women 48% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 76%
% Black 6% 4%
% Hispanic 6% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

Ursinus College JMU
% In-State 63% 73%
% Out-of-State 36% 26%

Campus

Ursinus College 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

  • James Madison University is larger than than Ursinus College based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 1,527 students)

Ursinus College vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ursinus College or JMU?

  • Ursinus College is 655% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($58,016.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 134.5% higher at Ursinus College than James Madison University ($58,016.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Ursinus College ($18,274 vs. $33,546)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 21.5% lower than costs at Ursinus College ($12,040 vs. $14,624)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ursinus College than James Madison University (100% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ursinus College students is 297.5% larger than aid received James Madison University ($40,075 vs. $10,081)

Ursinus College vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ursinus College or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or Ursinus College .

  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Ursinus College (3.53)
  • Ursinus College has a higher acceptance rate (82.2%) than JMU (78.3%)

Ursinus College vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Ursinus College 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 Ursinus College.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Ursinus College (81% vs. 80%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $2,300 more per year than Ursinus College graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $58,000)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $6,101 lower median federal student loan debt than Ursinus College graduates. ($20,899 vs. $27,000)
  • JMU graduates are paying $63 less per month on federal student loans than Ursinus College graduates. ($216 vs. $279)
  • More Ursinus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former JMU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 83%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/