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 1,492 22,758
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #203 #259
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ursinus.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Ursinus College JMU
Tuition (In State) $59,196 $7,914
Tuition (Out of State) $59,196 $25,128
Room & Board $15,064 $12,584
Avg Net Price $31,625 $26,317
Avg Grant Aid $43,758 $4,456
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 81%

Admission

Ursinus College JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,443 35,750
Admitted 3,008 27,258
Acceptance Rate 87.4% 76.2%
Enrolled % 13.5% 18.1%
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 25/29
SAT Range 1160/1360 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 May 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Ursinus College JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 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 1% 2%
% Women 0% 5%
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 61% 73%
% Out-of-State 38% 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 (22,758 students vs. 1,492 students)

Ursinus College vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ursinus College or JMU?

  • Ursinus College is 648% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($59,196.00 vs. $7,914.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 135.6% higher at Ursinus College than James Madison University ($59,196.00 vs. $25,128.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Ursinus College ($26,317 vs. $31,625)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 19.7% lower than costs at Ursinus College ($12,584 vs. $15,064)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ursinus College than James Madison University (100% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ursinus College students is 882% larger than aid received James Madison University ($43,758 vs. $4,456)

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 (87.4%) than JMU (76.2%)

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/