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Mason Virginia Tech VCU UVA CNU Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD Elon ASU Penn State| Washington & Jefferson College | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
W&J | JMU | ||
| Location | Washington, PA | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,162 | 22,758 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #238 | #259 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | washjeff.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
W&J | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $27,605 | $7,914 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,605 | $25,128 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,910 | $12,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,051 | $26,317 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $38,971 | $4,456 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 81% |
Admission |
W&J | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,218 | 35,750 | ||
| Admitted | 2,624 | 27,258 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 81.5% | 76.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.54 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/28 | 25/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1250 | 1170/1320 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
W&J | JMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
W&J | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 74% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,900 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 79% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $216 |
Diversity |
W&J | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 1% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 81% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 3% |
Students |
W&J | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 73% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 25% | 26% | ||
Campus |
W&J | 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 W&J based on total student enrollment (22,758 students vs. 1,162 students)
W&J vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, W&J or JMU?
- Washington & Jefferson College is 248.8% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($27,605.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 9.9% higher at W&J than James Madison University ($27,605.00 vs. $25,128.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Washington & Jefferson College than JMU ($26,051 vs. $26,317)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 10.5% lower than costs at Washington & Jefferson College ($12,584 vs. $13,910)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Washington & Jefferson College than James Madison University (100% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Washington & Jefferson College students is 774.6% larger than aid received James Madison University ($38,971 vs. $4,456)
W&J vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, W&J or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or W&J .
- Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at W&J (3.54)
- W&J has a higher acceptance rate (81.5%) than JMU (76.2%)
W&J vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, W&J 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 W&J.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Washington & Jefferson College (81% vs. 74%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $3,400 more per year than W&J graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $56,900)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $6,101 lower median federal student loan debt than W&J graduates. ($20,899 vs. $27,000)
- JMU graduates are paying $63 less per month on federal student loans than W&J graduates. ($216 vs. $279)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former W&J students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 79%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/