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Mason Virginia Tech VCU Michigan State UM-Dearborn Oakland UVA CNU Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD| Wayne State University | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WSU | JMU | ||
| Location | Detroit, MI | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 23,553 | 22,758 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #580 | #259 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wayne.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WSU | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,493 | $7,914 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $28,615 | $25,128 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,762 | $12,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,021 | $26,317 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,862 | $4,456 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 95% | 81% |
Admission |
WSU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 15,190 | 35,750 | ||
| Admitted | 12,461 | 27,258 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 82% | 76.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 24% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 25/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1040/1260 | 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 | Aug 1, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
WSU | JMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WSU | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 26% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $51,000 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 38% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,258 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $230 | $216 |
Diversity |
WSU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 19% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 3% |
Students |
WSU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 95% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 2% | 26% | ||
Campus |
WSU | JMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Wayne State University is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (23,553 students vs. 22,758 students)
WSU vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WSU or JMU?
- Wayne State University is 57.9% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($12,493.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 13.9% higher at WSU than James Madison University ($28,615.00 vs. $25,128.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State University than JMU ($16,021 vs. $26,317)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State University are 7% lower than costs at James Madison University ($11,762 vs. $12,584)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Wayne State University than James Madison University (95% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Wayne State University students is 143.8% larger than aid received James Madison University ($10,862 vs. $4,456)
WSU vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WSU or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or WSU .
- The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 64 points higher than at WSU (1070)
- Incoming JMU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WSU (23)
- Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at WSU (3.42)
- WSU has a higher acceptance rate (82%) than JMU (76.2%)
WSU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WSU 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 WSU.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Wayne State University (81% vs. 26%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $9,300 more per year than WSU graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $51,000)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $1,359 lower median federal student loan debt than WSU graduates. ($20,899 vs. $22,258)
- JMU graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than WSU graduates. ($216 vs. $230)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 38%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/